Gloucester boosted their hopes of winning their European Challenge Cup group with a bonus-point victory over Agen in France.

The Aviva Premiership side ran in six tries en route to a 45-24 win at Stade Armandie as they moved ahead of Pau at the top of Pool 3.

Pau will reclaim first place if, as expected, they beat rock-bottom Zebre on Saturday and then it will be a winner-takes-all showdown between them and Gloucester at Kingsholm next Friday.

The Cherry and Whites, with 10 changes to the side that started last weekend's defeat to Northampton, were quickly in charge against Agen as Henry Purdy crossed twice in the opening 10 minutes to help put the visitors 14-0 up.

Further converted tries from Callum Braley and Jason Woodward saw Gloucester extend their lead to 28-5 by half-time and wrap up a bonus point in the process.

Mark Atkinson's try immediately after the restart further emphasised Gloucester's dominance and, although Agen rallied through scores from Johann Sadie and Akapusi Qera to add to Marco Kotze's first-half effort, the English side never looked in serious danger of letting the match slip away.

And they finished off Agen's slim hopes with a 68th-minute try from captain Ed Slater - influential Wales fly-half Owen Williams again adding the extras with his sixth conversion - before Jessy Jegerlhener earned Agen a bonus point of their own with his side's fourth try.