Northampton 7 Biarritz 6:An intercept try in the second half by centre Robbie Kydd gave Northampton a shock 7-6 win over favourites Biarritz in San Sebastian yesterday and took them to the semi-finals.

Kydd cut out a pass from Biarritz scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili to flanker Serge Betsen and dived over after a 60-metre run.

Former All Black Carlos Spencer converted, sealing his team's win and setting up an all-England clash with Wasps.

Biarritz dominated the game but wasted their best opportunities through handling errors and lack of discipline on a pitch made slippery by several days of rain.

Biarritz, who had defeated Northampton twice in the pool phase, tried to open up the game when Yachvili darted down the touchline but the move was cancelled by a knock-on.

The French international scrumhalf finally made the scoreboard tick with a penalty for ruck infringement in the dying seconds of the first half.

Spencer failed to level the score in the 51st minute and Yachvili hit the post a few minutes later but converted his second penalty of the day on the hour. Seven minutes later Kydd silenced the 34,000 crowd.

BIARRITZ: Brusque; Bidabe, Gaitan, Traille, Gobelet; Peyrelongue, Yachvili; Balan, August, Avril, Thion, Couzinet, Betsen, Harinordoquy, Lievremont. Replacements: Lecouls for Avril (40 mins); Bosch for Gaitan (57 mins); S Bobo for Gobelet, Noirot for August (both 70 mins); Carizza for Couzinet (48).

NORTHAMPTON: Diggin; Lamont, Reihana, Kydd, Cohen; Spencer, Robinson; Smith, Hartley, Brooks, Lord, Short, Tupai, Lewitt, Labit. Replacements: Myler for Lamont (31 mins); Gerard for Lord (53 mins); Fox for Lewitt (72 mins).

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).