“The handling in what was atrocious conditions was tremendous from forwards and backs, and if you didn’t know which one was the French team you would have guessed it was us, because some of the skills and the off-the-cuff stuff was sublime.

“Our set piece all round was pretty strong, and for the first time all season really we scored a try from a line out and almost a pushover scrum when Colin Charvis was unlucky to fall just short.

“All in all it was a good performance, and we looked a useful side.”

Andrew was almost left to rue a late lapse in concentration as Brive ran in two quickfire tries to get within one score of a four-try bonus point.

“It got a bit frustrating at the end when there was the thought of them getting a bonus point after two quick tries, and I was ripping my hair out on the sidelines because we just let it slip for five minutes which could have been very costly in the long term pool standings," he said.

“The players would have got both barrels after the game if Brive had got a bonus point, because they certainly didn’t deserve one, and bonus points in this format are very important.”

Asked the significance of the scoreline, Andrew conceded: “It’s difficult to tell how good it was because we don’t know how seriously Brive are taking this competition with some of their selections and their attitude, but as the saying goes you can only beat what’s in front of you, and we did that very well this afternoon.”

“They scored two tries from short range line outs which is disappointing having done so much work defensively in that area, which continues to be an Achilles heel for us, but we will keep working on that.

“Our own driving play was much better, everyone could see that, and if we can stop sides attacking us there then we will be very difficult to score tries against, because our midfield and general team defence the last few games has been excellent.

“I don’t want to single players out because that was a team effort, and they all played their part.”

Highlighting some crucial features, he added: “The structure was very strong today, and we just keep having to give this team the ball, because we saw today what they can do with it.

“The running and offloading from the forwards in close quarters today was fantastic, and the hands from Matt Thompson and Robbie Morris for Tom May’s try were exceptional. 

“The skill levels involved in the tries from Jamie Noon and Matthew Burke were unbelievable, and the crucial thing is that we can perform those skills at a very high pace, which most teams can’t do.”

Among the talking points after the game was the breathtaking length-of-the-field try from Noon, which started on his own line and went through five pairs of hands en-route to the Brive posts. 

“It was a very skilful backs try straight from the kick-off in our own 22,” said Andrew.

“Now if a French team had scored that try we would be seeing endless replays on the TV and waxing lyrical about how the French are more skilful than us, but it was us who scored it, and I thought two or three of our tries were in that class today, especially Tom May’s in the second half.”

“This competition is now very important to us, and if you look at it logically as things stand it’s our best chance of getting in to the Heineken Cup.

“We’re taking it very seriously indeed, although we know Borders will be tough next weekend in what is effectively a local derby for us.”