Gloucester crash out of Cup

James Simpson-Daniel's first-half try was upstaged in the south of France by Biarritz's Dimitri Yachvili, who scored 14 points - including a brilliant 13th-minute touchdown.

The hosts galloped into a 17-10 interval lead in atrocious conditions thanks to tries from Yachvili and Imanol Harinordoquy - before Julien Peyrelongue sealed the victory.

Both sides needed maximum points and other results to go their way in the final round of pool matches to secure qualification for the last eight.

Heavy rain and gale force winds forced Welsh official Nigel Owens to call a pitch inspection an hour before kick-off - but conditions were deemed fit.

Elsewhere in Pool Six, Cardiff Blues guaranteed their position as number one seeds going into the quarter-finals and finished with a 100 per cent pool record for the first time.

But while their record-breaking nine-try victory was predictable against the whipping boys from Italy - Calvisano have not won a match in their last five seasons in the competition - they were made to work by the enthusiastic visitors.

The Blues, however, had the fire-power and the fitness to make sure that last weekend's phenomenal victory at Gloucester was not followed by embarrassment at home.

Full-back Ben Blair, back after a wrist injury, contributed 22 points and claimed the man-of-the-match award.