Gloucester boss Dean Ryan hailed his side's defence and Ryan Lamb's 68th-minute drop-goal for knocking holders the Ospreys out of the EDF Energy Cup.

After the 17-0 semi-final win, he said: "We did so much good work defensively because we didn't have a platform.

"I thought the drop-goal was crucial because that put us nine points ahead."

Ospreys boss Sean Holley said: "We came out with a really positive attitude and probably played all the rugby, but couldn't get on the scoresheet."

Ryan's side face Cardiff Blues, who beat Northampton 11-5 in the second semi, in the final at Twickenham on 18 April.

He added: "We won a massive game. People say we can't come away from home and we can't win big games.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Gloucester's win over Ospreys

"I don't know how many Welsh internationals - 10, 11 or 12 - the Ospreys had who just came off the Six Nations and we've got a nil.

"This side's in good shape. It's got good spirit to defend and work as hard as they did in a game where we didn't have much possession or as much cutting edge.

"But we made sure we won the game and that stands you in good stead. It doesn't guarantee you anything. It doesn't mean you'll roll all the way and get silverware, but in means you're in good health.

"And if you can keep working that hard, you may get something at the end of it."

Holley added: "It's not often the Ospreys get nilled. Full credit to Gloucester - they did a job on us at the breakdown and I thought they defended really, really well."

The Ospreys head coach said Wales' Six Nations disappointment could not be used as an excuse for his star-studded side's failure and they would now target Magners League and Heineken Cup success.

"Look, we can't use that as an excuse," said Holley. "I think we played enough rugby to perhaps win the game and weren't clinical enough.

"So that's very disappointing. We relinquished the title, which was very disappointing, but now we've got two big games in two weeks and we've got to dust ourselves off.

"We missed a couple of early penalties so I think the boys felt the game was going our way.

"We had a lot of momentum, a lot of territory and they really wanted to get a score on the board so at half-time we still felt the game was in our favour."

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