Another blow to England, another blow to the Prem. It was now Leicester’s turn to succumb to European opposition, with the Tigers comfortably swept aside by Pau in France.

The scoreline makes the match look like a bit of a thrashing and, certainly, the ease with which the side currently ranked in second in the Top 14 ran in the tries in the final quarter is consistent with that narrative. But Leicester will be incredibly disappointed with how the game got away with them and how they crumbled in the second half, with their hosts bagging a late bonus point.

In the first half, the Tigers led 10-3 and, although Pau recovered, the visitors kept within touching distance to go into half-time 10-17 down. In the second half, Leicester managed a solitary try, as the ever-improving Archie van der Flier crashed over from close range.

To make matters more humbling for both Leicester and English rugby’s top flight, this was not even a first-choice Pau side. Admittedly, the Tigers had rotated a little, too, but the returning Ollie Chessum – the captain a standout in defeat – making his first appearance of the season, coupled with Leicester’s hosts having rested a handful of their regulars, gave the East Midlands side hope pre-match.

That hope was misplaced. Aaron Wainwright dropping out on the morning of the match did not help, but in the second half in particular, Leicester were second best in almost every department.

So much so that it really is still too soon to judge whether Pau, a rising force in France, are genuine contenders for this competition. Certainly, on their day, if they take this competition seriously, at full strength they will trouble anyone. The question is whether they have the depth of the likes of Toulouse and Bordeaux to fight on two fronts.

Théo Attissogbe, the France utility back, is certainly the type of player who could frighten defences in the later rounds. After Chessum had given Leicester an early lead, Attissogbe ignited the Pau fightback and the French side were ruthless.

Rodrigo Marta scored twice, Attissogbe’s international team-mates, Aaron Grandidier Nkanang and Fabien Brau-Boirie, both crossed, while Jon Zabala needs to rethink his membership to the front-row union, with the tighthead running a try in from 20m. In the bar afterwards, it will be 40, of course.

Leicester host Northampton in the Prem next week in what tends to be the biggest game in the Tigers’s season. The trip to south-west France was far from auspicious preparation. That said, there is no better stage to right Sunday’s wrongs.

Match details