Gloucester cruised into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals after completing a
ruthless demolition job on Italian champions Treviso at Kingsholm.
And Jake Boer's team could now face an away tie against fierce European rivals
Munster in April.
Gloucester's opponents will not be known until the group stages are concluded
on Sunday, but they could also end up visiting either Wasps or Llanelli.
Munster's victory over Bourgoin in Limerick means that Gloucester
finished as Pool Five runners-up.
They will progress as seventh seeds, with the smart money being on a third
clash this season against Munster.
Gloucester beat the Irish side on home soil in December, but lost the return
encounter 35-14. Honours were also shared between the sides last season.
Boer and company knew exactly what they had to do before kick-off - win the
game, and leave mathematical permutations until after the final whistle.
It was a thoroughly professional Gloucester performance, as they manufactured
six tries from James Simpson-Daniel, Jon Goodridge, Robert Todd, Peter Buxton
and Marcel Garvey, while they also collected a penalty try and centre Henry Paul
landed all six conversions.
Treviso were outclassed and outmuscled, but they never threw in the towel,
despite Gloucester's supremacy.
Gloucester were not deterred by miserable playing conditions, and produced a
sparkling first-half display, outscoring their hosts four ties to none.
Simon Mason slotted an early Treviso penalty, but Gloucester fly-half Duncan
McRae split the visiting defence through an exquisite pass that allowed
Simpson-Daniel to sprint clear and claim his sixth touchdown of the tournament.
Paul converted, and also added the extra points to a Goodridge score after
Mason had booted a second penalty, but Treviso were already faced with a
damage-limitation exercise.
Alarming gaps began to appear in their defence, which allowed Gloucester to
kill the game off as a contest seven minutes before half-time.
McRae was again the catalyst, rifling out possession to Todd, who crossed
Treviso's line under no pressure.
Treviso flanker Salvatore Garozzo was sin-binned for a technical offence,
which was the last thing his team needed as Gloucester's forwards showed awesome
set-piece power.
The visiting pack inevitably buckled, and French referee Eric Darriere awarded
Gloucester a penalty try which Paul converted, leaving Treviso 28-6 adrift at
the break.
It was job done for Gloucester, despite playing into the teeth of a biting
wind, and although they had substitute prop Rodrigo Roncero yellow-carded on 46
minutes, flanker Buxton soon added a fifth try.
Treviso only had pride to play for during the second period, and replacement
Darrel Eigner provided some consolation through a well-worked corner score, but
normal service was quickly resumed.
Garvey made light of heavy under-foot conditions, scampering across the
surface and beating three Treviso defenders through a devastating change of
angle.
The score showcased Gloucester's attack-minded attitude, although there was
still a tinge of disappointment at the final whistle that a potentially
priceless home quarter-final draw had eluded them.
Teams;
Gloucester: Goodridge, Garvey, Todd, Paul, Simpson-Daniel,
McRae, Gomarsall, Woodman, Fortey, Vickery, Eustace, Brown,
Boer, Buxton, Forrester.
Replacements: Fanolua for Todd (59), Roncero for Woodman (41),
Collins for Fortey (76), Cornwell for Brown (58).
Not Used: Deacon, Paramore, Page.
Sin Bin: Roncero (46).
Tries: Simpson-Daniel, Goodridge, Todd, Penalty,
Buxton, Garvey.
Cons: Paul 6.
Treviso: Mason, Legg, Visentin, Pozzebon, Williams, Smith,
Picone, Ribbens, Ongaro, Martinez, Checchinato, Garozzo,
Gritti, Orlando, Palmer.
Replacements: Travagli, Erasmus, Eigner, Faliva, Montani, Di Santo,
Pavanello.
Sin Bin: Garozzo (33).
Tries: Eigner.
Pens: Mason 2.
Att: 10,176
Ref: Eric Darriere (France).
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