South African coach Franco Smith saw his Benetton Treviso team halt a 13-match run without a win in the Heineken Cup with a 30-26 victory over Biarritz and declared "that will do so much for Italian rugby.

"We had to break the ice of winning in the Heineken Cup - we had not won a game in two years - so this really was a huge win for the club and the game in Italy," Smith told ERC.

"It demonstrated that Italians sides can be competitive at this level and that we are in the Heineken Cup on merit. Now we have to keep on working hard to maintain the momentum built up from the draw against the Ospreys and this win.

"I am sure we will face a different Biarritz team in Round 4 over there and, as they are a team with their backs against the wall that will make them even more dangerous.

"All credit to Biarritz, they are a top team and they tried to lift the pace and force penalties, and they certainly showed their hunger for success.

"But we hung on well after leading 27-12 and demonstrated how much they want to win. The determination of all the players was behind this win."