The third-choice Scotland No. 9 started ahead of Lions star Gareth Cooper for the Cherry and Whites in the showpiece match against in-form Cardiff.

And although the former Edinburgh man performed tidily behind a beaten pack, he could do nothing to stop the Welsh side romping to a 50-12 success.

Scotland hooker Scott Lawson started the game on the bench but entered the action early in the second half in an unfamiliar back-row berth after Andy Hazell was injured just minutes after replacing Akapusi Qera.

Gloucester coach Dean Ryan was furious after the match and was left to rue the absence of powerful Scotland flanker Alasdair Strokosch, out with a shoulder injury, from his line-up.

Ryan may well also have been lamenting his decision to leave a fourth Scotland man, mobile prop Alasdair Dickinson, out of his squad after opting for the greater scrummaging power of Nick Wood.