Biarritz bounced back from their Week 1 defeat to Harlequins by recording a six-try 38-17 victory against Zebre in Pool 3 at Parc des Sports Aguilera.
The hosts were halfway to the try bonus-point after just over ten minutes as prop Fabien Barcella's early try was followed up by a typical scrum-half's try from Yann Lesgourges, who sniped from the base of a ruck to touch down.
Daniel Halangahu did at least get the Italians on the scoreboard with a penalty in between those two tries but the home side were completely dominant and it wasn't long before more tries arrived.
The next was provided by Takudzwa Ngwenya. The prolific American international winger was the grateful recipient of a freakish try as Jean-Pascal Barraque's chip over the top stopped dead on the rain-soaked pitch, allowing him to pick the ball up and stroll over the line.
Halangahu reduced the arrears slightly again with another three points and, despite sodden conditions that weren't exactly conducive to long-range shots at goal, Zebre captain Gonzalo Garcia was then successful with a penalty attempt from inside his own half.
Biarritz were back on the front foot moments later but, despite a period of concerted pressure and some powerful play from their forwards, they were unable to get the crucial fourth try that they were looking for and the score remained 19-9 at the break.
It took them just five minutes of the second half to secure the bonus point though as Samoan second-row Pelu Taele bulldozed his way over from only a few metres out.
Halangahu kept the scoreboard ticking over for the visitors with his third penalty of the evening but the side from Parma rarely threatened the opposition try-line. And Lesgourges heaped further misery on them shortly afterwards as he caught the defence unaware by taking a quick tap penalty and diving over the line for his second try of the game.
Zebre's night then got even worse as Emiliano Caffini, who had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes, was sent to the sin-bin and Biarritz's replacement hooker Arnaud Heguy got in on the act with his side's sixth try.
South African number eight Dries van Schalkwyk did get a try for late on, touching down in the left-hand corner after a strong run, but it was scant consolation for the Italians on another long night for the newly-formed outfit.
The scorers:
For Biarritz:
Tries: Barcella, Lesgourgues 2, Ngwenya, Taele, Heguy
Con: Barraque 3, Peyrelongue
For Zebre:
Try: Van Schalkwyk
Pen: Halangahu 3, Garcia
Biarritz Olympique: 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Taku Ngwenya, 13 Seremaļa Burotu, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jean-Pascal Barraque, 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 8 Raphael Lakafia, 7 Wenceslas Lauret, 6 Magnus Lund, 5 Pelu Taele, 4 Erik Lund, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Benoit August , 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Arnaud Heguy, 17 Thomas Synaeghel, 18 Eugene van Staden, 19 Thibault Dubarry, 20 Benoit Guyot, 21 Julien Peyrelongue, 22 Marcelo Bosch, 23 Benoīt Baby.
Zebre: 15 Ruggero Trevisan, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Gonzalo Garcia, 12 Daniel Halangahu, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Luca Martinelli, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 5 Mike Van Vuren, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Luca Redolfini, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 David Ryan, 18 Carlo Fazzari, 19 Emiliano Caffini, 20 Filippo Cristiano, 21 Tito Tebaldi, 22 Alberto Benettin, 23 David Odiete.
Referee: Dudley Phillips
Comments
melkdave says...
Not an unexpected result to be honest,imoZebres should even be in the HEC .Dont think they will win a single game to be honest.
Posted 10:08 21st October 2012