In Italy on Sunday, MPS Viadana warmed up for the opening Round of the Super 10 which starts on 13 September with a hard-fought 19-15 win away at Petrarca Padova.

Viadana were quick off the mark with Kiwi centre Matt Harvey crossing in the second minute and fellow New Zealander, outside half Charlie Hore converting and then adding a try mid way through the first half to put his side 12-0 ahead.

Petrarca, featuring former Saracen Mark Bartholomeusz at fullback, took a 15-12 lead courtesy of a Davide Pastormerlo penalty and tries either side of half time from no8 Nicolas Galatro and Fjian back rower Joseva Domololaillai, with Pastormerlo converting the second.

South African lock Quintin Geldenhuys scored the match winning try for Viadana with 20 minutes left and Hore left Petrarca needing a try to regain the lead with his second conversion of the afternoon, and that’s how the game finished.

Il Leones have recruited some familiar names for the 2008-09 season in the not inconsiderable shapes of former Worcester man mountain Gavin Quinnell, Sean Hohneck, the former Bristol lock and Canadian no8 and kick-off return specialist Phil Murphy from London Irish. Plus they have Italian internationals Kane Robertson, Lance Persico and Josh Sole and so could prove a handful at home, just like they did in last season’s Heineken Cup.

While the Italians are still preparing for their domestic season to kick off, in France the Top 14 has already completed two rounds and it has been a difficult start for Sarries’ first opponents Mont de Marsan who have lost their opening two fixtures and lie one off the bottom of the ladder.

Last Wednesday Thomas Castaignede’s home town team were well beaten at Montauban 37-19 with just the one try scored on the hour by wing Damien Cler and the rest of the points coming from a conversion and four penalties by scrum half Beñat Arrayet.

Things went better for Stade Montois at Stade Francais, as they picked up a losing bonus point in the very last minute courtesy of outside half Yannick Lafforgue in going down 27-22 in the French capital.

Again, there was just one try scored, this time by flanker Marc Giruad, which put his side into a surprise 16-9 lead early in the second half. Paris, however, hit back through tries from Pierre Rabadan and Sergio Parrise and a conversion and penalties from Mirco Bergamasco to restore the natural order of things, before Lafforgue booted the goal that got Mont de Marsan off the mark in the Top 14; a feat all the more remarkable after the team were stuck on the bus for ELEVEN hours before taking on the Parisian aristos.

Next up will be an interesting home test against moneybags, star-studded Toulon who, of course, were promoted along with Stade Montois from Pro D2 last season.

Saracens and Gloucester’s pre-season conquerors Bayonne are fourth in the table after two wins in their first two games. The first was by the narrowest of margins, 27-26 away at Castres, where they scored three first half tries from Fijian wing Filimone Bolavucu, fullback Jean-Baptise Peyras against his former club, and flanker Julien Puricelli. Ex-Sale utility back Daniel Larrechea booted three conversions and a penalty to see his team home as they held on to their one point advantage for nearly half an hour at the end of the match.

If they had Larrechea to thank at Castres, Bayonne had Manny Edmonds to thank back at Stade Jean Dauger on Saturday as they notched up win number two against Mont de Marsan’s conquerors in Round 1, Montauban. The Australian former Perpignan outside half scored all the home side’s points from a try, conversion and five penalties as they just held on to win 22-20. Clermont Auvergne will be Bayonne’s  Round 3 opponents, at home, on Friday night.

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