By reputation French sides are not expected to travel well but on this occasion Agen exploded this theory with an impressive display to inflict a second successive Heineken Cup defeat of the season on Gloucester.
The Cherry and Whites' European Cup journey is almost effectively over for this season, as a more powerful Agen side gained a bonus point win without too much trouble at a muted Kingsholm.
In simplistic terms Agen were bigger and better than Gloucester.
Agen were a typical French side - a big strong pack with a hard physical edge to complement an equally large back division and posed questions for Dean Ryan’s star pupils all afternoon.
It is to be hoped that lessons will have been learned but it really was a case of men against boys.
Gloucester were without star back row men Andy Hazell and James Forrester because of injury but it is doubtful if they would have made a telling difference.
The selected back row of Boer, Narraway and Buxton was up against it with the French heavyweights and when Jake was forced to leave the field it left a gap that Adam Balding was unable to fill.
Too much loose ball was wasted on the ground where Agen won more than their fair share.
As in Dublin last week, Gloucester suffered from poor decision making and again this week, as much of the blame must fall on the shoulders of the half back pairing of Peter Richards and especially Ryan Lamb. In particular their inept kicking out of hand did nothing other than hand possession to the opposition. Lamb was definitely off the menu!
They were not alone in struggling against such formidable French opposition, as Iain Balshaw, also spoken of as having England potential, looked anything but an international player.
Despite all the intensive media hype around Gloucester’s young hopefuls, the only one who can realistically be considered a genuine contender for inclusion in the current England team is Anthony Allen, who was yet again the best centre on the pitch.
Gloucester were guilty of far too many turnovers. At the higher level of Heineken Cup intensity no side can get away with losing possession without being punished as the home side found out to their cost.
Ryan Lamb had given the Kingsholm crowd hope with a couple of early penalties but Agen were soon on their way as their giant Fijian winger Caucaumiluca began to make his formidable physical presence felt.
The visitors were especially strong in the contact area and off-loading in the tackle and scored with deceptive ease through Mignardi for their first converted try.
Lamb added another penalty but ‘Caucau’ always looked dangerous and every time he had the ball it was danger for the home side and Gloucester were hard pressed to contain their visitors and it came as no surprise when Agen added another try through prop van Niekerk, then added a penalty to increase the visitors lead to 15-9.
Agen lost winger Valinquer to the sin-bin and the home side upped their efforts as Jake Boer set up a series of strong drives before Anthony Allen showed his class with an unconverted try but Gloucester soon lost Jake with an injury.
The home side were experiencing problems trying to contain ‘Caucau’ throughout and Agen profited when yet another poorly directed kick finished with Soucaze scoring under the posts.
Ollie Morgan had to leave the field with a recurrence of his recent shoulder injury before replacement the large lock Stoltz gained Agen’s bonus point try to virtually seal the game at 14-29 with twenty minutes to go.
Ollie Azam and Patrice Collazo joined replacement full back Willie Walker joined the fray to make something of a mini revival. An Agen drive was robbed by Azam and the Gloucester attack ended with a second try for Allen which Walker converted.
The home side lost both Marco Bortolami and Peter Richards as each player limped off in the final quarter.
Within minutes Gloucester added another try from a trade-mark Azam drive to narrow the gap to 26-29.
Agen steadied their ship with a drop goal from replacement Gelez and although the Cherry and Whites increased their efforts they were unable to add to their score as the visitors’ defence effectively ran the clock down to take the spoils which they won on merit.
Disappointment for the home fans and the realisation that at the moment the current side is not quite as good as some thought against the top opposition in Europe.
For the second time in a week Gloucester had finished second best to a physically stronger side but the raw flawed tactical options and basic errors had a major part in their downfall.
A difficult month coming up in the Guinness Premiership and the Cherry and Whites very much need to sharpen up their act to maintain their present league position.
T.H.

Gloucester
O.Morgan (rep.W.Walker)
J.Bailey, A.Allen, J.Adams (rep. H.Keil), I.Balshaw
R.Lamb , P.Richards (rep. R.Lawson)
C.Califano (rep. P.Collazo), M.Davies (rep.O.Azam), C.Nieto
M.Bortolami (C) (rep.A.Eustace), J.Pendlebury
P.Buxton. , L.Narraway,. J.Boer (rep.A.Balding)

Referee: - M.Changeng (Scotland)
Attendance - 10,143