It was a challenge Gloucester could not cope with, largely because Leicester not only delivered such a forceful display of all-round power, but they also dominated possession to such an extent that they were constantly on the front foot and driving forward almost at will.

Nor was the side’s immitation of The Irresistible Force confined to their pack. Wingmen Alensano Tuilagi and Seru Rabeni combined pace and power to expose some fragile defensive work by Gloucester, who were only in the game as an attacking force in the closing stages when Leicester were home and dry and elected to give their replacements game time ahead of next weekend’s match.

Although Gloucester full-back Willie Walker gave his side early encouragement with the opening penalty, Leicester gave a hint of their forward menace when they set up the position for scrum-half Frank Murphy to stretch over from close range for a try that was ultimately awarded by the television referee.

Fly-half Andy Goode converted before Walker landed his second penalty, but the shape of the game was defined on the half-hour when a poor clearance kick allowed Tuilagi to combine with full-back Geordan Murphy. Murphy provided the smart pass the released Tuilagi on the left and he powered through two tackles in a 35-yard gallop to the line.

A Goode penalty nudged Leicester further ahead before skipper Martin Corry made it 22-6 at the break with a try, converted by Goode, which owed everything to a powerful inside burst by Rabeni.

Walker cut the deficit with a penalty soon after the restart, but Gloucester’s defence was found wanting again twice in the 45th and 51st minutes when both Goode and Tuilagi sliced through for simple tries, Goode converting Tuilagi’s touchdown.

Flanker Shane Jennings was then driven over in another Leicester power-play and while fly-half Ryan Lamb intercepted for a try that Walker goaled, Leicester had the last word when Lewis Moody crossed from another forward drive.

“Things went our way today. It was nice, especially how we finished the first-half. We can take a huge amount of satisfaction from the victory." said Leicester captain Martin Corry. “Keeping hold of the ball was the key thing. We’ve got the runners and we know we’re dangerous when we have the ball. Gloucester also showed what they could do when they had possession, so ball retention was very important.

“A few things went to plan that’s for sure,” said coach Pat Howard. “The players defended their hearts out. I think they really wanted this. They were fantastic today.

“Some of our clinical finishing was pretty good. We took our chances and that’s often the game.

“It’s a lovely moment, it’s really nice, but we’ve been focused on another step. We’ll go into the game against Wasps as favourites and we have to deal with that. But we’ve never beaten Wasps in a knockout game and we’ve got to address that.”

Said Gloucester scrum-half Peter Richards: “We didn’t adapt to the conditions as well as they did. They came with a full-on power game. They were ever so effective. We didn’t deal with it and they ran away with the game at the end of the first-half."  

Gloucester: W Walker; I Balshaw, J Simpson-Daniel, A Allen, M Foster; R Lamb, P Richards (R Lawson, 52); N Wood (C Califarno, 54), O Azam (M Davies, 47), C Nieto, W James (A Eustace, 78), A Brown, P Buxton capt (J Boer, 15), A Hazell, L Narraway. T: Tuilagi 2, Frank Murphy, Corry, Goode, Moody, Jennings. C: Goode 3.  P: Goode.

Leicester: G Murphy; S Rabeni (T Varndell, 62), D Hipkiss, O Smith (S Vesty, 57), A Tuilagi; A Goode, F Murphy (B Youngs, 67); M Ayerza, G Chuter (J Buckland, 70), J White (A Moreno, 67), L Deacon (L Cullen, 55), B Kay, L Moody, S Jennings, M Corry (captain). T: Lamb. C: Walker.  P: Walker 3

Referee: D Pearson (RFU). Attendance: 59,400