No fewer than six of Les Bleus' likely first-choice 15 were in action as Biarritz recorded a famous 21-17 victory against English Premiership giants Leicester in European Cup Pool One.

The whole of the celebrated France back row - Serge Betsen, Thomas Lievremont and Imanol Harinordoquy - were outstanding as the visitors stormed to an 18-0 half-time lead.

The half-back combination of scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili and fly-half Damien Traille formed a dynamic and highly-effective partnership ahead of Frances RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland on February 5, while full-back Nicolas Brusque also starred.

Biarritz took a fifth-minute lead when lock Jerome Thion took clean line-out ball 15 metres out and was driven over the line - and they added a second try when Yachvilis pass was flicked on by lock Olivier Olibeau to find winger Jimmy Marlu in space on the left flank.

Yachvili added one conversion in addition to a 14th-minute penalty.

Traille put over a drop goal on 17 minutes to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Andy Goode eventually opened his sides account two minutes into the second half with a penalty, and breaks by Irelands Geordan Murphy and Ollie Smith temporarily lifted the capacity 16,815 crowd.

But there seemed no way back when the combative Harry Ellis was sin-binned on 53 minutes for using his elbow in the face of Yachvili, who got up to kick the 50-metre penalty and restore his sides 18-point lead.

The 14-man Tigers thought they had scored a try when Goode sliced through the Biarritz defence only for the video referee to rule he had failed to reach the line.

Their last chance to claw their way back in the game disappeared when winger Alex Tuilagi dropped Leon Lloyds pass with the line beckoning, although the Samoan finished off intense pressure with a try on 74 minutes.

At least the Tigers finished on a high when Ellis used his deceptive strength to force his way past Traille and Harinordoquy to claim his sides second try, to which Goode added his third goal.