Mark Gasnier grabbed two tries as Stade Francais confidently defeated Brive 44-16 in the French Top 14 on Friday.

Gasnier, playing on the wing, scored twice in the space of four second-half minutes as Stade moved into fifth place in the table, three points behind leaders and champions Perpignan.

Victory was also the ideal warm-up for next Saturday's European Cup opener at home to Edinburgh.

Stade ran in five tries in total with Antoine Burban, Geoffroy Messina and English flanker James Haskell all on the scoresheet.

With France and England national coaches Marc Lievremont and Martin Johnson looking on from the stands, and with the autumn internationals fast approaching, they could prove crucial scores.

Brive fly-half Andy Goode, also hoping to figure in Johnson's plans, kicked two penalties and a drop goal before he was withdrawn just before the hour mark as his side kept one eye on their European Cup trip to Llanelli next weekend.

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