Four of Frank Hadden’s RBS 6 Nations pool crashed out in one game when Gloucester were outmuscled against Munster at Kingsholm.

And Chris Paterson – who didn’t miss a kick during the whole of the World Cup and the RBS 6 Nations – was one of the villains for the home crowd.

The utility back missed three early penalties, two of which were straightforward, as the Irish province ran out 16-3 winners.

Paterson’s rare profligacy in front of goal extended to his general play while Rory Lawson endured a poor afternoon at scrum-half as Munster’s back row made his life difficult at the breakdown.

Alasadair Dickinson was introduced to Gloucester’s front row midway through the second half but powerful flanker Alasdair Strokosch was strangely not used by coach Dean Ryan.

Meanwhile Nikki Walker’s Ospreys were dumped out at the last-eight stage by competition surprise package Saracens.

Former Borders wing Walker had little to do as the English side secured a shock 19-10 victory at Vicarage Road.

Meanwhile lock Nathan Hines and scrum-half Chris Cusiter bowed out when Perpignan were defeated 20-9 by London Irish.

The only Scotsman with any interest in the latter stages of the European Cup is Marcus di Rollo, who is with French giants Toulouse.

However he was not part of Hadden’s RBS 6 Nations squad as he attempted to bed himself in with his new club after joining from Edinburgh last summer.

In addition, the centre has found opportunities very hard to come back since moving to the south of France and is unlikely to be involved in the semi-final with London Irish.