Gloucester failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup thanks to defeat at Biarritz.

James Simpson-Daniel's first-half try was upstaged in the south of France by Biarritz's Dimitri Yachvili, who scored 14 points - including a brilliant 13th-minute touchdown.

The hosts galloped into a 17-10 interval lead in atrocious conditions thanks to tries from Yachvili and Imanol Harinordoquy - before Julien Peyrelongue sealed the victory.

Both sides needed maximum points and other results to go their way in the final round of pool matches to secure qualification for the last eight.

Heavy rain and gale force winds forced Welsh official Nigel Owens to call a pitch inspection an hour before kick-off - but conditions were deemed fit.

Gloucester faced a tough assignment, with the French side boasting a formidable home record of just three defeats in their previous 29 Cup ties.

The visitors suffered a major blow before kick-off at the Parc des Sports Aguilera when Mike Tindall pulled out with a dead leg.

The England centre was replaced by Matthew Watkins.

The Cherry and Whites got off to a terrible start, trailing 10-0 after six minutes.

Yachvili opened the scoring with a close-range penalty and converted Harinordoquy's try, after the France number eight cut through Gareth Cooper's weak tackle.

Biarritz were on the front foot and nearly extended their lead when American wing Takudzwa Ngwenya was stopped short of the line by a superb covering tackle from Iain Balshaw.

But when Gloucester hooker Olivier Azam's throw went astray in the following line-out, Harinordoquy - in front of France coach Marc Lievremont - capitalised to score the opening try

Things went from bad to worse for Dean Ryan's men when Yachvili doubled Biarritz's try count - diving on his own brilliant chip through to slide home.

The scrum-half added the conversion for a 17-point lead.

But Gloucester were handed a lifeline when left wing Simpson-Daniel danced over in the 17th minute.

Barkley converted, but the Guinness Premiership side were dealt an instant blow when Fijian flanker Apo Satala was yellow-carded for deliberately killing the ball.

After failing to break down 14 men against Cardiff Blues last weekend, Gloucester fought for their lives despite the numerical disadvantage.

Barkley added a penalty in the 25th minute, and the visitors were given a boost when Biarritz's Damien Traille was sin-binned for a deliberate trip on Balshaw after neat work by Gloucester captain Luke Narraway.

Gloucester went into the interval in good heart but saw their hopes drifting away in the 47th minute when Willie Walker had his kick charged down by opposite number Peyrelongue.

The fly-half pounced for the third try and re-established the hosts' lead, before Yachvili's conversion put Biarritz 14 points in front.

Gloucester tried to mount one final effort - but despite Jerome Thion's yellow card, they failed to break down their hosts.