England World Cup star Neil Back scored two tries as Leicester clinched England's final Heineken Cup qualifying place by subduing Zurich Wildcard opponents Sale Sharks at Twickenham.

The Tigers, European champions in 2001 and 2002, outscored Sale 6-3 on touchdowns.

Back (2), Leon Lloyd (2), Austin Healey and Daryl Gibson all scored, while Andy Goode kicked 18 points to put Sale in the second-tier Parker Pen Challenge Cup competition next term.

Sharks skipper Jason Robinson collected an early try, handing Sale a brief 7-6 lead, but Leicester were ultimately too strong in every key area, despite conceding second-half touchdowns to wing Steve Hanley and substitute scrum-half Scott Benton.

They will join fellow English representatives Wasps, Bath, Northampton, Harlequins, Gloucester and Newcastle as top-flight European contenders next term.

It proved a successful Twickenham return for Back and England's World Cup-winning skipper Martin Johnson, who both made their first appearances at headquarters since retiring from Test rugby.

And his Tigers justified their red-hot favourites' tag to secure a Heineken Cup place following an impressive unbeaten Premiership run that made them - along with Wasps - English rugby's form side.

Leicester managed without their talisman fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen due to Springboks training commitments, so goalkicker Goode moved from full-back as his deputy and Geordan Murphy wore the No 15 jersey.

Leicester, undefeated in the Premiership since early January, took an early lead through Goode's second-minute penalty strike, but Johnson was quickly involved in a skirmish with Sharks lock Dean Schofield.

Referee Tony Spreadbury warned both players, yet Leicester gained a resulting penalty, and Goode found the target superbly from 50 metres.

The Tigers should have claimed an opening try on 11 minutes, but Healey went for glory himself rather than finding unmarked players out wide, and he failed to ground possession.

It was a wasted opportunity, allowing Sale to clear their lines after absorbing a lengthy spell of pressure.

And how Sale made Leicester pay, claiming a 20th-minute try from an outstanding move created by Hanley, whose scoring pass allowed Robinson to scamper clear for a touchdown that Hodgson converted.

Sale, back at Twickenham just six weeks after being edged out in a Powergen Cup final thriller against Newcastle, weathered an intense early storm, giving Leicester plenty to think about.

Healey though, then atoned for that earlier blunder when he dummied his way over from close range, and Goode's conversion gave Tigers a 13-7 lead, 10 minutes before half-time.

Goode's accuracy, despite a swirling wind, proved relentless, and he completed his penalty hat-trick from 48 metres as Leicester moved nine points clear.

Sharks lost hooker Andy Titterrell following an accidental collision with Tigers' former England flanker Back, and an apparent cheekbone injury could put his England tour place to New Zealand and Australia next week in doubt.

Leicester finished the half with a second try, again a direct result of clever close support play, and Gibson rounded things off to put Sale firmly in reverse, although a Hodgson penalty made it 21-10 at the break.

The Tigers, displaying a trademark killer instinct, claimed their third try within two minutes of the restart.

Healey, who cropped up in all parts of the pitch as Leicester took control, rifled a pinpoint cross-kick to Lloyd, and he caught possession under minimal pressure for what was the decisive score.

Goode converted, and although Hodgson replied with his second penalty, Leicester collected another close-range try, this time from Back.

Hanley sprinted unopposed for a 60th-minute consolation try, and Hodgson finished with 12 points, but Back scored again for Tigers, even though they finished a player short after flanker Martin Corry was sin-binned.

And Lloyd completed his double in the dying seconds as Leicester won the wildcard competition for a second successive season.