Gloucester secured their place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals tonight as rugby director Nigel Melville declared: “We did what we needed to do.”

BEATEN by double scores and still flattered by the 22-11 scoreline, Munster limped away from Kingsholm on Saturday knowing they have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the knock-out stages of the Heineken European Cup for the sixth successive year.

NIGEL MELVILLE and Dean Ryan have sent out a clear warning to Phil Vickery and Chris Fortey — don’t think you are going to walk back into the side for Saturday’s game at Thomond Park.

GLOUCESTER’S worst fears have been realised with the withdrawal yesterday of England World Cup-winning tight head prop Phil Vickery from their side to meet Munster in the Heineken European Cup at Kingsholm tomorrow.

JOHN HAYES trained with Munster at Thomond Park yesterday and is a certain starter against Gloucester in the Heineken European Cup at Kingsholm on Saturday.

GLOUCESTER’S South African World Cup star Thinus Delport will miss the crucial Heineken Cup games against Munster after suffering a serious season-ending knee ligament damage.

Gloucester’s South African World Cup star Thinus Delport is out for the season after suffering serious knee ligament damage.

Gloucester have switched star signing Henry Paul from centre to fly-half for Sunday’s Powergen Cup sixth round tie at Bristol.