Leicester gave Martin Johnson and Neil Back a triumphant finale to their
Welford Road playing careers as they stormed into the Zurich Premiership Grand
Final on Saturday.
Their convincing victory over Wasps ensured that the two World Cup winners
will make their final appearances for Tigers in the final at Twickenham on May
28 before hanging up their boots.
Defeat means that Wasps, champions for the last two years via the semi-final
play-off route, will have to go that way again in order to clinch a hat-trick of
titles.
But the day belonged to Tigers and the crowd rose to pay tribute to Johnson,
captain of English rugby's greatest day and flanker Back following an
overwhelming victory.
Top-quality tries by England scrum-half Harry Ellis, centre Daryl Gibson,
winger Geordan Murphy, Back and replacement Dan Hipkiss, plus 20 points from the
reliable boot of fly-half Andy Goode, made sure that long-term leaders Leicester
finished the regular season top of the table.
Goode converted four of the five tries, landed three out of four penalties and
also kicked a drop goal on the stroke of half-time.
All Wasps had to show in return were an early penalty from full-back Mark van
Gisbergen, which briefly levelled the scores early in the first half, and a late
consolation try by left-wing Tom Voyce, converted by van Gisbergen.
Wasps showed early promise but a stunning try by Ellis put Leicester in
control and they never loosened their grip on the game as the visitors became
more and more ragged.
Lions selection Ellis, who outshone World Cup-winner Matt Dawson, took a fine
pass from flanker Henry Tuilagi just inside the Wasps half and, lacking support,
he spotted a gap in the defence and accelerated through it to score with a
terrific turn of pace.
Tuilagi's day turned sour four minutes later when he suffered a suspected
broken leg as Voyce hauled him back two metres short of the try line.
But nothing was stopping Leicester and they struck again in the 32nd minute.
Forward Julian White, Johnson and George Chuter carved up the Wasps' rearguard
with a close passing move before Tigers whipped the ball out wide for Murphy to
send Gibson over in the left-hand corner.
Murphy scored the third try three minutes after the interval to extend the
lead to 33-3, snatching an interception and racing 70 metres for a runaway try
between the posts.
Fittingly it was Back who scored the fourth try - his 125th for Tigers - when
he pounced on a loose ball, kicked ahead and easily won the chase to touch down
in the right-hand corner.
The try crowned another impressive performance by a 36-year-old who showed he
still has plenty to offer the British Lions when he becomes their oldest tourist
on this summer's trip to New Zealand.
There was more to come with Goode punishing Wasps by grabbing another
interception to send Hipkiss in for their fifth try.
The way Leicester bounced back from last week's Heineken Cup defeat by
Toulouse will make them firm favourites to send Johnson and Back, who is taking
up a full-time coaching role at Welford Road next season, into retirement with
one final glory day at Twickenham.
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