Teams enter the field. Dry, clear conditions in Parma

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Round 3 of the Heineken Cup with Zebre hosting Saracens in Parma. This is only the second season of Pro12 and Heineken Cup rugby for Zebre and already it’s easy to see huge improvement. It has come at a time when Italian rugby is going from strength to strength and more willing to play freer rugby. They are giving huge confidence to their players.
In their entire thirty-nine man squad they only have seven non-Italian players. No doubt this plays a huge part in Italy’s recent successes. On their day they can both cause problems and stretch Sarries’ defence. Closing the ball down early is key as they can both finish very well. If you saw Dion Berryman’s finish against Toulouse you know what I mean. It was one of best ever seen in the Heineken Cup. Pressure is key for Sarries as the Zebre discipline has caused them to concede seven yellow cards already this season. The reverse is also true as Luciano Orquera is kicking at 85% this season and will keep the pressure building. One thing you should not do these days is underestimate Italian teams, club or country. They are extremely resilient and play with a lot of pride at home.Kick off not too far away now, I hope you enjoy the coverage!