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Borders welcome big gunning Biarritz to Netherdale for a battle that could – even at this early stage – .determine the progress of the home side.
With a win and a loss under their belts so far this season, Steve Bates’ squad have surprised many pundits – but now comes the big test – unbeaten Biarritz Olympique.
Last season’s Heineken Cup runners blew away Overmach Parma 50-7 in round 2, and overcame Northampton Saints 22-10 in round 1.
But if one criticism can be levelled at the French side, it is their poor away form – and that is something Borders captain Chris Cusiter must tell his team before they take the field on Saturday.
Biarritz Olympique ‘zero’ the Borders, and score four tries to win with a bonus point and pave the way in Pool 6.
The French champions extended their perfect Heineken Cup start with a 25-0 win over the Border Reivers in Galashiels.
Biarritz, who comfortably recorded their third win from as many pool games, are ideally placed to reach the quarter-finals.
Tries by lock David Couzinet and winger Jean-Baptiste Gobelet and a penalty from France scrumhamlf Dimitri Yachvili gave the visitors a 13-0 lead at halftime.
Biarritz stayed on top in the second half and scored another try by powerful centre Damien Traille which Yachvili converted.
They then kept pushing forward and were rewarded in added time when flanker Imanol Harinordoquy gave them a last-gasp fourth try that secured a bonus point.
The club from the French Basque country lead Pool 6 from Northampton, who ran in 10 tries including two each from Paul Diggin and Sean Lamont to crush Parma 68-21 in Italy on Saturday.
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