Kelly Brown in action for the Borders

Biarritz (13) 25
Tries: Couzinet, Gobelet, Traille, Harinordoquy
Pens: Yachvili
Cons: Yachvili

Biarritz strolled to a comfortable Heineken Cup victory as the Border Reivers were snuffed out at Netherdale.

Powerful lock David Couzinet scored the first of four tries after some slick work from Serge Betsen, Damien Traille and Dimitri Yachvili.

Full-back Nic Brusque then gave winger Jean-Baptiste Gobelet the time and space to slide over.

Traille added a second-half try and Immanol Harinordoquy was driven over for a late bonus-point score.

In terms of possession and territory, the Scots matched last year's beaten finalists.

But when it came to snapping up the chances, they were not in the same class as the brilliant Basques.

Borders were under heavy pressure from the outset and the breakthrough came in the sixth minute through Couzinet.

Yachvili atoned for his conversion miss by slotting a penalty from a tricky angle in the 26th minute.

Biarritz added a superb second try when Brusque entered the line at full pelt from deep to set up Gobelet.

With a half time deficit of 13 points, the Scots were still in the hunt - but they needed a potent start to the second half to put any real pressure on the visitors.

And they could not raise the tempo or pass accurately when it mattered and Biarritz were able to control the game.

The French side raced downfield for touchdown number three when when Traille skipped around the hesitant Reivers defence and Yachvili converted.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Harinordoquy was driven over for the bonus-point score.

Borders: MacRae, Law, Rennie, De Luca, Daniel, Jones, McKerchar, Kerr, Ford, Douglas, Grimes, Hamilton, Palepoi, Gray, Brown.
Replacements: Scott, Kalman, Dalziel, Miller, Chrystie, Townsend, Flockhart.

Biarritz: Brusque, Bidabe, Bosch, Traille, Gobelet, Peyrelongue, Yachvili, Lealamanua, August, Lecouls, Hall, Couzinet, Betsen, Harinordoquy, Lievremont.
Replacements: Noirot, Wessels, Dellape, Malonga, Dupuy, Bobo, Dambielle.