Pool Six/Northampton 8 Biarritz 17:Northampton knew before kick-off they would be facing Biarritz in the quarter-finals, barring the unlikely outcome of a draw in which the Saints scored four tries and restricted the French club to no more than three. The only question was where the tie would be staged.
Northampton needed to win by more than seven points and score at least four tries to bring Biarritz back here. The diehards in the near-capacity crowd realised towards the end of the first half they could start planning for a trip to the Basque country when the Saints, despite a two-man advantage when Sereli Bobo and David Couzinet were in the sin-bin, not only failed to manufacture a try but almost conceded two when Benjamin Noirot and Philippe Bidabe were denied by last-ditch tackles.
Few will give Northampton a chance against last season's beaten finalists, but there is something methodically English about Biarritz with their reliance on organisation and defence above instinct and verve. Yesterday they produced only three moves of note, two of which ended in tries.
Northampton should have fullback Bruce Reihana fit by the time of the quarter-final, but centre Jon Clarke is taking longer than expected to recover from a broken ankle. Without them the Saints lack a cutting edge and they made little out of ample possession despite the promptings of Carlos Spencer.
He scored the first points yesterday, kicking a penalty 30 minutes in, but Dimitri Yachvili equalised with a drop-goal in first-half stoppage-time when his side were down to 13 men. Couzinet had seen yellow for stamping but Bobo's banishment was harsh - not only was he trying to play the ball on his feet as David Quinlan was holding on to it after being tackled but, even if he had been guilty of slowing Northampton's possession, the fact play was on halfway meant he was not denying a scoring opportunity.
He would not have been doing so had he dived into the ruck from the wrong side on his own line, such were Northampton's limitations with ball in hand. Small wonder the French are intent on boycotting Europe, although Serge Blanco said after the game that last week's non to the Heineken European Cup next season meant peut-etre. "We are waiting for something to happen," he said. "If we do not play in it next season, perhaps we will in the one after."
Biarritz ensured victory with two tries in 13 second-half minutes, Andrea Masi gliding past Ben Cohen for the first and creating the second for Bobo to finish off.
Soane Tonga'uiha mauled his way over for Northampton's consolation. He had come on at the start of the second period for Pat Barnard who, claimed Grayson, had been targeted by Biarritz, receiving treatment after a 25th-minute incident which sparked a melee.
Guardian Service
SCORERS: Northampton: Tries: Tonga'uiha. Pens: Spencer. Biarritz: Tries: Masi, Bobo. Cons: Yachvili.
NORTHAMPTON: Kydd; Lamont, Cohen, Quinlan, Diggin; Spencer, Robinson; Budgen, Thompson, Barnard; Gerard, Short; Tupai, Fox, D Browne. Replacements: Lord for Gerard (25), Tonga'uiha for Barnard (41), Hartley for Thompson (69), Laird for Kydd (77), Easter for Budgen (80).
BIARRITZ: Dambielle; Bidabe, Gaitan, Masi, Bobo; Peyrelongue, Yachvili; Balan, August, Avril; Thion, Couzinet; Betsen, Harinordoquy, Lievremont. Replacements: Noirot for August (31), Dellape for Couzinet (43), Lecouls for Avril (53), Marlu for Dambielle (69), Dupuy for Yachvili, Dridi for Harinordoquy (both 74). Sinbin: Bobo (33), Couzinet (37).
Referee: Donal Courtney (Leinster).
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