English champions Wasps booked a Heineken Cup semi-final showdown with Munster
in Dublin after crushing outclassed Gloucester at the Causeway Stadium.
Wasps, seeking a European and domestic double this season, will travel to
Lansdowne Road on April 25 for what should be an immense encounter.
And judging by Sunday's evidence, Wasps must have every chance of reaching
their first Heineken Cup final, meeting either Toulouse or Biarritz at
Twickenham next month.
They steamrollered Gloucester into submission, dominating the match
territorially and taking their try-scoring opportunities in ruthless fashion.
Gloucester had no answer, finishing a distant second-best as Wasps,
comfortably clear of their opponents in the Zurich Premiership, underlined a
rich vein of form.
Scrum-half Rob Howley, hooker Trevor Leota, captain Lawrence Dallaglio and
substitute Ayoola Erinle scored tries, while French referee Joel Jutge also
awarded Wasps a penalty try, as if in acknowledgement of the home side's
physical supremacy.
Erinle bagged an injury-time breakaway score, while fly-half Alex King added
three conversions and a penalty, his solitary three-pointer arriving just two
minutes from time when Wasps mercilessly shut out the game after leading 19-3 at
the break.
England skipper Dallaglio had a game to remember for all sorts of reasons,
also being on the receiving end of a crunching collision with team-mate Paul
Volley and collecting a yellow card when he blatantly cut off Gloucester's
possession from a ruck.
But Dallaglio will now lead Wasps into the penultimate knockout stage, having
eclipsed their previous Heineken-Cup best of quarter-final appearances in 1998
and 2000.
Gloucester's only hope of silverware this term now rests with the Premiership,
but they will need to progress via the play-offs, which could mean an unnerving
return appointment with Wasps away from home.
The Causeway Stadium was packed to its 10,000 capacity, with Gloucester's
travelling army of fans making a sizeable contribution towards an electric
pre-match atmosphere.
Opening exchanges proved predictably fast and furious, and as both packs
sparred for control, it was clear that attacking opportunities would be at a
premium.
Wasps enjoyed a degree of territorial control, and their patience was rewarded
on 18 minutes when then they conjured up a high-class try.
Howley, despite having hardly any space to work in, linked superbly with
centre Stuart Abbott, and Abbott's inside pass allowed the former Wales captain
a free run that took him behind the Gloucester posts.
King landed the conversion, but the visitors were relieved to make a quick
response when centre Henry Paul slotted a 40-metre penalty that ended the
opening quarter 7-3 in Wasps' favour.
Wasps though, relished the physical intensity of Heineken Cup rugby's first
all-English quarter-final since 2000, but it almost rebounded eight minutes
before half-time.
Dallaglio and his back-row colleague Volley were involved in a sickening clash
of heads that left both players flat out on the turf.
Gloucester prop Phil Vickery, realising the situation's potential seriousness,
waved to the referee to stop the game, and Dallaglio and Volley both required
extensive treatment before continuing.
Gloucester could not get out of their own half, and they conceded a damaging
score just three minutes before the break.
The Wasps forwards tried to drive a line-out deep inside Gloucester's 22, and
when the visiting forwards transgressed in cynical fashion, the referee
immediately awarded a penalty try that King improved for a 14-3 lead.
It was a hammer-blow score for Gloucester to concede, and Wasps ended the half
as they had started it - in control.
Gloucester had hooker Chris Fortey sin-binned for persistent offending during
stoppage time, and Wasps struck a huge psychological blow immediately following
his departure.
The home pack, making their one-man advantage count, rolled remorselessly
towards Gloucester's line, and Dallaglio claimed the touchdown that secured a
19-3 interval advantage.
Gloucester needed to score first in the second period, but Wasps stung them
within two minutes.
Lock Simon Shaw carried the ball superbly deep behind enemy lines, and before
the visitors could regroup in defence, Leota crashed over for Wasps' fourth try
that left their opponents in disarray.
Try number five almost followed six minutes later, as Gloucester again failed
to cope with Wasps' sheer physical presence with ball in hand.
Leota went close, and when possession was worked wide, it took a last-gasp
Gloucester tackle to deny Wasps wing Tom Voyce.
Dallaglio then departed for 10 minutes midway through the half, but Gloucester
could not make their temporary one-man advantage count.
With the game won, Dallaglio remained off the field when his 10-minute
'breather' elapsed, Mark Lock replacing him, and it was merely a question of
whether off-colour Gloucester could register an consolation try.
Predictably, they failed, and Wasps' Easter Sunday party began in earnest,
players and supporters relishing the prospect of ruining Munster's big day out.
Teams
Wasps: van Gisbergen, Lewsey, Waters, Abbott, Voyce, A. King,
Howley, Dowd, Leota, Green, R. Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley,
Dallaglio.
Replacements: Denney for Waters (75), Erinle for Abbott (75),
Biljon for Howley (77), Gotting for Leota (77),
Payne for Green (71), Purdy for Birkett (71),
Lock for Dallaglio (68).
Tries: Howley, Penalty, Dallaglio, Leota, Erinle.
Cons: A. King 3.
Pens: A. King.
Gloucester: Van der bergh, Garvey, Fanolua, Paul,
Simpson-Daniel, McRae, Gomarsall, Woodman, Fortey, Vickery,
Eustace, Brown, Boer, Hazell, Paramore.
Replacements: Todd for Fanolua (60), Dupreez for Fortey (44),
Cornwell for Eustace (60), Buxton for Hazell (49).
Not Used: Roncero, Deacon, Amor.
Pens: Paul.
Att: 10,000
Ref: Joel Jutge (France).
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