Heineken Cup round-up:The Ospreys qualification hopes from Pool Three in the Heineken Cup hang in the balance following a humbling defeat to Clermont Auvergne.
Julien Malzieu and Napolioni Nalaga grabbed second-half tries for the French outfit in an intense contest at the vociferous Stade Marcel Michelin.
The crushing result now means the Welsh region must win against Leicester Tigers at the Liberty Stadium next Saturday to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Tommy Bowe set the Ospreys on their way with a seventh-minute score but the French giants dominated proceedings and possession thereafter and eventually the pressure told.
Elsewhere in Pool Three,Scott Hamilton was again Viadana's nemesis as Leicester kept their aspirations alive.
But flanker Tom Croft was carried off the field after 27 minutes with a knee injury that threatens his RBS 6 Nations hopes.
Full-back Hamilton scored a hat-trick when Leicester crushed the same opponents 46-11 in Italy last year, and his two strikes at Welford Road today included the fourth try which ensured a maximum five-point haul.
In Pool Two,Biarritz secured a quarter-final place at Gloucester today but it was the English side who came out of the match with great credit.
The French team cannot be caught in despite a 23-8 defeat but Gloucester have kept themselves in the best runner-up contest. At the very least they should have a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup which goes to three of the second-placed pool teams.
Sale's hopes in Pool Fourwere left hanging by a thread after they were battered into a 36-19 submission by the Cardiff Blues.
Victory for the Sharks at Cardiff City Stadium would have set up a winner-takes-all Pool Five showdown with French giants Toulouse in Stockport tomorrow week.
But three Ben Blair penalties and a long-range Leigh Halfpenny strike took the wind out of Sale, despite tries by their Fijian number eight Sisa Koyamaibole, England centre Mathew Tait and lock James Gaskell.