Three-time European champions Stade Toulousain fought from 0-14 down to win 23-19 at Harlequins, and continue their excellent start in Pool 5.

The French giants looked lethargic and strangely off the pace as they were continually hustled into errors by Quins in the opening period, with England winger Ugo Monye touching down for a try (on 28 minutes) and fly-half Nick Evans kicking three penalties.

Stade full-back Maxime Médard experienced a particularly torrid first half, but was integral to the visitors' recovery and played a key role in their first try, just four minutes after the restart. The young international got a favourable bounce from an upfield kick, paving the way for winger Yves Donguy to crash through for his third try of this year's tournament. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked the extras, and was on target again just three minutes later after No 8 Shaun Sowerby piled over from the back of a ruck following yet more chaos from another high ball.

Heineken Cup Pools & Fixtures

In the blink of an eye Stade were back on level terms, but Quins dug deep and regained the lead when the impressive Monye again showed his pace to race on to Mike Brown's grubber kick and touch down in the corner for his second score of the match.

Evans failed with his touchline conversion and Stade's European nous then came to the fore as they ground out a series of penalties through dogged forward play and sharp off-loading. Elissalde narrowed the gap before his replacement Frédéric Michalak added three more points to see the visitors take the lead for the first time in the match (on 63 minutes).

Quins pushed for a reply as time ticked down but Michalak spurned a kickable penalty before crashing the crossbar with an opportunistic long-range penalty. With the final whistle approaching centre Florian Fritz then landed the knockout blow with a 40m kick that sealed the win - and with it Stade's dominance in Pool 5. Quins, on the other hand, now look rank outsiders after losing their opening two games.

In-form Biarritz also made it two wins from two as they demolished Gloucester with a five-try display at the Parcs des Sports Aguilera, with American speedster Takudzwa Ngwenya running in a superb hat-trick.

The Eagles’ flyer turned on the burners for try number one as he left James Simpson-Daniel and Tom Voyce sprawling, executed a perfect chip-and-chase for his second and completed his hat-trick after his speed forced a defensive error and paved the way for Damien Traille to feed him for a simple run in.

He was only denied a fourth by an earlier forward pass, but English centre Ayoola Erinle and replacement fly-half Valentin Courrent both scored late on to confirm Biarritz's domination.

The visitors did manage two tries of their own - through Voyce and Jake Boer - but in truth they were outclassed once Biarritz had overcome a turgid opening to find their attacking flair. Dimitri Yachvili's three first-half penalties put them 9-3 up after 27 minutes, but once Ngwenya had opened his try account (on 35 minutes) it was pretty much one-way traffic.

The American grabbed his second just before half-time - leaving Biarritz 21-3 ahead - and duly completed his hat-trick 10 minutes into the second period.

The win leaves the Basques in total command of Pool 2 and means they have now racked up seven successive wins in all competitions, riches that struggling Brive can only dream of following the Limousin club's latest reverse - a 13-36 home trouncing by defending champions Leinster.

The result means Brive remain pointless after two matches on their return to Heineken Cup rugby and now staring at early elimination from the competition they fought so hard to qualify for last season.

It also continued their worrying recent form, with Saturday's defeat their fifth in six matches and their the seventh overall so far this season.

For Leinster, however, it was just the sort of response they were looking for as they got their  Heineken Cup defence back on track with a convincing away win at the Stade Amédée Domenech.

The Irish province were good value for their victory as they dominated up front and posed a far greater threat with their potent backs as they continued to move the ball quickly throughout.

Their only disappointment would have been missing out on a possible bonus point as they spurned several second-half chances to score tries. As it was they had to settle for just the three tries thanks to Rob Kearney’s 14^th-minute effort and a late brace from replacement lock Kevin McLaughlin.

In-between fly-half Jonny Sexton landed five penalties with an impeccable kicking display that ensured the defending champions were always ahead once they had overhauled Andy Goode’s second-minute penalty.

The home side battled gamely but never really challenged Leinster’s superiority as they continually gave away needless penalties. But that’s what pressure can do, and Brive’s current poor form again undermined their game plan, even when Leinster were temporarily reduced to 14 men by Isa Nacewa’s harsh yellow card for a high tackle in the 48^th minute.

Craig Short tried his best for the hosts with a sterling line-out effort from the former Northampton lock, but too often Brive’s players found themselves isolated as they strove to break through.

Another Short take was key to their only success when Gerhard Vosloo eventually dived over from close in on 64 minutes, but Leinster’s response was immediate and clinical with McLaughlin powering over for his first try less than two minutes later following a good break from Fijian wing Nacewa. McLaughlin went over again in the final minute to seal the win after further forward domination, leaving Brive with a mountainous task now if they are to qualify from 6.

Their only consolation was Scarlets' surprising 27-25 away win at London Irish, a result which cemented the home side's excellent start but simultaneously threw open the fight for second spot.

On Friday, French champions Perpignan began their Heineken Cup rescue mission with a 29-13 home win against Northampton Saints in Pool 1.

The Catalans have serious ground to make up after slumping to a shock 9-8 defeat in Italy last weekend, but at least got back to winning ways with Friday evening’s victory.

Full-back Jérôme Porical kicked 19 points to ensure the win, with Perpignan centre David Marty also grabbing a try (a minute before half-time) to add to the home side’s earlier penalty try (in the 17^th minute).

The win was not without blemish, however, as tries either side of half-time from Chris Ashton and Brian Mujati gave the visitors hope of a priceless bonus point. But Porical’s boot put paid to that, with Saints continually punished as he landed five penalties in addition to his two conversions.

Saints coach Jim Mallinder conceded Perpignan were the better side. “We know where we stand. Perpignan are one of the best sides in Europe, particularly at home. You have got to play at your real best to win out here, and we didn’t do that. We didn’t play to the best of our ability and deserved to come second best.”

Indeed, Perpignan have now gone 16 matches unbeaten at the Stade Aimé Giral, a run stretching back seven years at their imposing home ground. But they know they will also have to win away after their shock defeat to Benetton Treviso in round one, as well as trying to pick up as many attacking bonus points as they can along the way.