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Saracens will be targeting a maximum point haul from their Heineken Cup double-header against Zebre beginning at Stadio XXV Aprile on Saturday. - 06/12/2013 00:37
Saracens will be targeting a maximum point haul from their Heineken Cup double-header against Zebre beginning at Stadio XXV Aprile on Saturday.
The English club currently sit second in Pool 3, four points adrift of four-times champions Toulouse following their narrow defeat to the French giants at Wembley. They have never lost to Italian opposition in European competition and Zebre are still searching for their first Heineken Cup win.
Saracens will be determined to close the gap on Toulouse during the back-to-back December matches but they will be without a host of frontline players. England internationals Joel Tomkins, Mako Vunipola, Will Fraser and Brad Barritt will all miss the encounter in Parma.
Fraser is the latest to join the growing casualty list with a knee injury and director of rugby Mark McCall admits it is a major blow.
“He'll be a huge loss,” said McCall. “He played magnificently for the club last year, he had an operation at the end of last season and was just coming back to his best.”
They will, however, have Charlie Hodgson back at their disposal. The former England fly-half missed Rounds 1 and 2 of the Heineken Cup due to an Achilles injury, but he returned to action last month and has been in sublime form while Owen Farrell has been on international duty.
Zebre have lost all eight matches in European competition to date and have conceded more than 50 points on both occasions they previously faced English opposition. But the Italians have closed the gap considerably this season and claimed a famous league win against Cardiff Blues in September.
They prepared for the clash with a hard-fought 19-11 defeat to Ulster but will be battle-hardened for the visit of Saracens.
Saracens claimed top spot in Pool 3 with a bonus-point victory over Zebre. - 07/12/2013 16:19
Saracens claimed top spot in Pool 3 with a bonus-point victory over Zebre.
George Kruis, Ernst Joubert and Chris Wyles all crossed before Chris Ashton scored twice in the space of eight minutes to wrap up the victory.
Samu Vunisa claimed a late consolation score for Zebre, but, from the moment Charlie Hodgson kicked Saracens ahead in the sixth minute, the former English Champions rarely looked likely to surrender the lead.
Zebre were made to pay for basic errors deep inside their own half when a knock-on handed Saracens an attacking scrum from which second-row Kruis eventually crashed over from five metres out on 13 minutes. Hodgson converted and added a second penalty before another set-piece move saw Saracens claim their second try.
No8 Joubert stormed over from a well-worked lineout and, despite Hodgson missing the conversion from out wide, Saracens led 18-0 after 24 minutes.
Opposite number Vunisa was shown a yellow card for a professional foul moments later and Alex Goode made the most of the advantage. The full-back mounted a counter attack and Ashton's pass handed Wyles a simple finish in the corner.
Saracens’ pressure mounted and Mauro Bergamasco joined Vunisa in the sin bin to leave Zebre down to 13 men for three minutes before half-time.
Against the odds, Gonzalo Garcia kicked the first points of the second half, though Saracens still threatened. David Strettle saw his try ruled out for obstruction earlier in the move before Ashton made sure of the bonus point on 61 minutes.
The England wing then grabbed a second just moments later after good work by Strettle and Goode. Owen Farrell converted for his first points of the game.
Zebre finished the stronger, however, and, after Saracens replacement Duncan Taylor was binned for not releasing the tackled player, Vunisa stepped through a gap in midfield and galloped 50 metres for a rousing score that gave the home crowd something to cheer.
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