Wasps: (19) 34 Tries: Howley, Dallaglio, Penalty, Leota, Erinle BR>Con: King (3) Pen: King Gloucester: (3) 3 Pen: Paul

Rob Howley, Lawrence Dallaglio, Trevor Leota and Ayoola Erinle all crossed for the home side, who were also awarded a controversial penalty try.

In contrast, the West Country side could only manage a single penalty, from Henry Paul.

Wasps now face a daunting semi-final clash against Irish giants Munster in Dublin's Lansdowne Road.

Last season Wasps were the first club to win the English title following a play-off final, thrashing Gloucester 39-3 at Twickenham.

It is now up to Wasps to carry the English flag through to the finish From Gloucesterboy Have your say on Scrum V

That result was made all the more bitter for the Cherry and Whites, as they had finished the regular season 15 points clear of their second-placed rivals.

It was a similar story on Sunday when Wasps established a 19-3 half-time lead.

They outscored Gloucester three tries to nil in the opening half, when Howley and Dallaglio crossed and Joel Jutge opted to award the hosts a penalty try.

Then, just two minutes into the second half with Gloucester down to 14 men, Samoa's Leota powered over for Wasps' fourth.

Dallaglio was sin-binned for a needless fracas with fellow England World Cup-winner and Gloucester prop Trevor Woodman in the 58th minute but Melville's side continued to struggle.

Instead King's penalty and a stoppage time try by replacement Ayoola Erinle piled on the misery for the visitors.

Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio said: "It was ruthless. We talked about how it would be a real contest and I thought we blew them away."

Man-of-the-match Trevor Leota added: "It was awesome. We had to be fired up today and we did well at the end."

Wasps: van Gisbergen, Lewsey, Waters, Abbott, Voyce, A. King, Howley, Dowd, Leota, Green, R. Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio. Replacements: Lock, Payne, Gotting, Purdy, Biljon, Denney, Erinle.

Gloucester: Van der Bergh, Garvey, Fanolua, Paul, Simpson-Daniel, McRae, Gomarsall, Woodman, Fortey, Vickery, Eustace, Brown, Boer, Hazell, Paramore. Replacements: Dupreez, Roncero, Deacon, Cornwell, Buxton, Amor, Todd.

Referee: Joel Jutge (France).