 |
|
|
Match Info
 London Wasps  Leicester Tigers 26 - 16
(Half Time 23 - 6)
Date & Time: Sat 31st May 2008, 15:00
Wasps' skipper Lawrence Dallaglio lifts the Premiership silverware
Photo copyright: © Getty Images
Wasps power to Premiership title
31 May 2008, 4:47 pm
By Scrum.com
London Wasps clinched this season's Guinness Premiership crown with a 26-16 victory over Leicester Tigers at Twickenham.
Lawrence Dallaglio enjoyed a dream Twickenham send-off as Wasps sent him into retirement with another major trophy.
Wasps captain and England World Cup winner Dallaglio bowed out after his team once again proved themselves masters of the play-off system.
The newly-crowned Guinness Premiership champions made it four league titles in six seasons, ending arch-rivals Leicester's hopes of successfully defending the crown they won a year ago.
But Wasps were made to fight every inch of the way in front of an 81,600 world record club crowd after Tigers tries by wing Tom Varndell and scrum-half Harry Ellis during a six-minute spell threatened to wipe out a 17-point interval deficit.
Wasps had stormed clear through touchdowns by flanker Tom Rees and wing Josh Lewsey, while full-back Mark Van Gisbergen weighed in with five successful kicks.
Van Gisbergen finished with 16 points - in stark contrast to goalkicking opponent Andy Goode, who slotted just two from six attempts.
There seemed no way back for a spirited Leicester side, having edged into the play-offs and then edged out Gloucester by a point during a gripping semi-final.
But they remained in the fight, despite Goode's inaccuracy and even after Dallaglio made his exit - to a prolonged standing ovation - 12 minutes from time.
Wasps though, an alarming 10th in the Premiership just before Christmas, completed a prolonged run to the finishing line by having just enough gas left in the tank.
But there was an unedifying sight of uncontested scrums for the final 20 minutes after both first-choice Wasps props went off, begging the question onceagain of when will rugby's rulers sort it out?
Riki Flutey took fly-half duties for Wasps from ankle injury victim Danny Cipriani, who is unlikely to play again this year after suffering a fracture dislocation during the semi-final victory over Bath two weeks ago.
There was a also a farewell for Treviso-bound Wasps centre Fraser Waters, who was partnered in midfield by Dominic Waldouck. Between them, Waters and Dallaglio had made more than 550 Wasps appearances.
Leicester were unchanged from the side that toppled semi-final opponents Gloucester 26-25 at Kingsholm two weeks ago, but Wasps quickly gave them something to think about.
Van Gisbergen and Goode exchanged early penalties - then Wasps struck from their first meaningful attack.
Fit-again England World Cup captain Phil Vickery proved a prominent ball-carrier after scrum-half Eoin Reddan's midfield break, and Leicester were at sixes and sevens in defence.
Wasps had no intention of letting such an opportunity slip, and Rees dived over for a try that Van Gisbergen converted from the touchline.
Leicester found themselves facing worrying early pressure, and their defensive work took its toll as full-back Geordan Murphy and centre Aaron Mauger both required treatment.
The Tigers briefly roared through wing Alesana Tuilagi's power, but Wasps finished the opening half with a 10-point blitz in six minutes.
Van Gisbergen completed his penalty hat-trick after Leicester's England lock Ben Kay was fortunate to escape a yellow card, then Wasps struck a killer blow.
Dallaglio's presence of mind deep inside his own half ignited a promising counter-attack that lock Simon Shaw and the irrepressible Rees bought into, causing Leicester to chase at a rate of knots.
Ultimately though it was a missed tackle by Tigers flanker Ben Herring that allowed Lewsey to sprint clear and touch down, with Van Gisbergen's fifth successful kick giving Wasps an imposing 23-6 interval advantage.
Vickery, unsurprisingly given his lack of match fitness, made way for Pat Barnard at the break, while injured Tigers centre Dan Hipkiss was replaced by ex-Wasps player Ayoola Erinle.
Leicester threw everything at Wasps from the restart, and scrum-half Ellis was agonisingly denied a try when his chip and chase was tapped behind his dead-ball line by a retreating Paul Sackey.
Territorially, Tigers remained in the contest, but their lack of firepower was exposed until Goode unlocked Wasps' defence after 56 minutes.
Goode's clever cross-kick caused uncertainty in the Wasps defence, and after Van Gisbergen and Lewsey failed to clear, Varndell pounced for an opportunist score.
Although Varndell's touchdown only reduced the gap to 23-11, it served as a wake-up call for Wasps, who had shown signs of complacency.
And when the game went to uncontested scrums, Leicester immediately prospered after Ellis scampered off the back to cross unopposed.
Goode missed the conversion, but Leicester were back in the final at only seven points adrift, setting up a nerve-tingling closing 15 minutes.
Van Gisbergen then hoisted Wasps 26-16 clear, and when Goode missed a straightforward penalty nine minutes from time, Wasps knew they were home and hosed.
London Wasps (23) 26
Tries: Rees, Lewsey
Con: Van Gisbergen (2)
Pen: Van Gisbergen (4)
Leicester Tigers (6) 16
Try: Varndell, Ellis
Pen: Goode (2)
Man of the Match: Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
London Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen(2C, 4PG); Paul Sackey, Fraser Waters, Dominic Waldouck, Josh Lewsey(1T); Riki Flutey, Eoin Reddan; Tim Payne, Raphael Ibanez, Phil Vickery; Simon Shaw(MoM), Tom Palmer; James Haskell, Tom Rees(1T), Lawrence Dallaglio (capt).
Bench: Joe Ward, Pat Barnard, Richard Birkett, Joe Worsley, Mark McMillan, Jeremy Staunton, John Hart.
Replacements used: Barnard for Vickery 41, Ward for Ibanez 61, Worsley for Payne 61, Hart for Dallaglio 67, Staunton for Waldouck 79, Birkett for Palmer 79, McMillan for Reddan 79.
Leicester Tigers: Geordan Murphy; Tom Varndell(1T), Dan Hipkiss, Aaron Mauger, Alesana Tuilagi; Andy Goode(2PG), Harry Ellis(1T); Boris Stankovich, Mefin Davies, Julian White; Marco Wentzel, Ben Kay; Martin Corry (capt), Ben Herring, Jordan Crane.
Bench: Benjamin Kayser, Marcos Ayerza, Richard Blaze, Tom Croft, Christophe Laussucq, Sam Vesty, Ayoola Erinle.
Replacements used: Erinle for Mauger 23, Mauger for Erinle 26, Erinle for Hipkiss 41, Kayser for Davies 46, Blaze for Wentzel 54, Ayerza for Stankovich 56, Croft for Herring 56, Laussucq for Ellis 80.
Scoring sequence: 6' Van Gisbergen (PG) 3-0, 9' Goode (PG) 3-3, 12' Rees (T) 8-3, Van Gisbergen (C) 10-3, 24' Van Gisbergen (PG) 13-3, 29' Goode (PG) 13-6, 35' Van Gisbergen (PG) 16-6, 37' Lewsey (T) 21-6, Van Gisbergen (C) 23-6, 56' Varndell (T) 23-11, 62' Ellis (T) 23-16, 72' Van Gisbergen (PG) 26-16.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Attendance: 81600.
GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP FINAL
Saturday 31st May
London Wasps v Leicester Tigers (Twickenham, 3pm) Live on
FINAL PREVIEW
London Wasps v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Wayne Barnes (55th Premiership game). Touch Judges: Peter Huckle and Paul Dix. TMO: Geoff Warren.
PREVIOUS PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS
1997-98 Newcastle Falcons
1998-99 Leicester Tigers
1999-00 Leicester Tigers
2000-01 Leicester Tigers
2001-02 Leicester Tigers
2002-03 London Wasps
2003-04 London Wasps
2004-05 London Wasps
2005-06 Sale Sharks
2006-07 Leicester Tigers
ALL THE PREVIOUS PREMIERSHIP FINALS
31 MAY 2003
GLOUCESTER (3) 3, LONDON WASPS (23) 39 (Twickenham)
Gloucester: Thinus Delport; Marcel Garvey (Clive Stuart-Smith 77), Terry Fanolua (Robert Todd 63), Henry Paul, James Simpson-Daniel; Ludovic Mercier(1PG) (Simon Amor 69), Andy Gomarsall (sin bin 42-53); Rodrigo Roncero, Olivier Azam, Phil Vickery; Adam Eustace, Mark Cornwell (Rob Fidler 40); Jake Boer (capt), Andy Hazell, Junior Paramore (Peter Buxton 57).
Bench: Clive Stuart-Smith, Simon Amor, Robert Todd, Chris Collins, Andy Deacon, Rob Fidler, Peter Buxton.
London Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen (Martyn Wood 77); Josh Lewsey(2T), Fraser Waters (Ayoola Erinle 28-34), Stuart Abbott (Mark Denney 69), Kenny Logan; Alex King(3C, 5PG, 1DG)(MoM) (Ayoola Erinle 40-HT), Rob Howley; Craig Dowd (Ali McKenzie 75), Trevor Leota (Phil Greening 62), Will Green; Simon Shaw (Peter Scrivener 74), Richard Birkett; Joe Worsley(1T), Paul Volley (Mark Lock 73), Lawrence Dallaglio (capt).
Bench: Martyn Wood, Phil Greening, Mark Denney, Ayoola Erinle, Mark Lock, Peter Scrivener, Ali McKenzie.
Scoring sequence: 2' Lewsey (T) 0-5, King (C) 0-7, 4' Mercier (PG) 3-7, 9' King (PG) 3-10, 12' King (PG) 3-13, 19' King (PG) 3-16, 40' Lewsey (T) 3-21, King (C) 3-23, 43' King (PG) 3-26, 46' King (DG) 3-29, 52' King (PG) 3-32, 70' Worsley (T) 3-37, King (C) 3-39.
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England).
Attendance: 42,000.
29 MAY 2004
BATH RUGBY (3) 6, LONDON WASPS (0) 10 (Twickenham)
Bath Rugby: Mike Catt; Andrew Higgins, Robbie Fleck, Mike Tindall (Olly Barkley 78), Alex Crockett; Chris Malone(1PG, 1DG), Martyn Wood (Hentie Martens 79); David Barnes, Jonathan Humphreys (capt) (Lee Mears 56), Duncan Bell (Matt Stevens 49); Steve Borthwick, Danny Grewcock (Rob Fidler 79); Andy Beattie, Michael Lipman (James Scaysbrook 79), Zak Fea'unati.
Bench: Hentie Martens, Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Olly Barkley, Wylie Human, James Scaysbrook, Rob Fidler.
London Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen(1C); Josh Lewsey, Fraser Waters (Mark Denney 80), Stuart Abbott(1T) (Ayoola Erinle 27-35), Tom Voyce; Alex King(1DG), Rob Howley; Tim Payne, Trevor Leota (Ben Gotting 54), Will Green; Simon Shaw, Richard Birkett; Joe Worsley, Paul Volley, Lawrence Dallaglio (capt)(MoM).
Bench: Henry Nwume, Mark Lock, Ben Gotting, Martin Purdy, Peter Richards, Mark Denney, Ayoola Erinle.
Scoring sequence: 7' Malone (PG) 3-0, 41' King (DG) 3-3, 51' Malone (DG) 6-3, 64' Abbott (T) 6-8, Van Gisbergen (C) 6-10.
Referee: Chris White (England).
Attendance: 59,500.
14 MAY 2005
LEICESTER TIGERS (6) 14, LONDON WASPS (19) 39 (Twickenham)
Leicester Tigers: Sam Vesty; Geordan Murphy, Ollie Smith, Daryl Gibson, Leon Lloyd; Andy Goode(3PG), Harry Ellis; Darren Morris, George Chuter, Julian White; Martin Johnson (capt), Ben Kay; Louis Deacon, Neil Back, Martin Corry.
Bench: James Buckland, Graham Rowntree, Lewis Moody, Will Johnson, Scott Bemand(1T), Austin Healey, Alesana Tuilagi.
Replacements used: Bemand for Ellis 19, Rowntree for Morris 41, Moody for L.Deacon 41, Healey for Lloyd 51, Alesana Tuilagi for Vesty 69, Buckland for Chuter 75, W.Johnson for Kay 75.
London Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen(1T, 3C, 5PG); Paul Sackey, Ayoola Erinle, Josh Lewsey, Tom Voyce(1T); Alex King(1DG), Matt Dawson; Tim Payne, Phil Greening, Will Green; Simon Shaw, Richard Birkett; John Hart, Joe Worsley, Lawrence Dallaglio (capt)(MoM).
Bench: Trevor Leota, Craig Dowd, Mark Lock, Martin Purdy, Warren Fury, James Brooks, Rob Hoadley(1T).
Replacements used: Leota for Greening 72, Dowd for Payne 72, Fury for Dawson 77, Hoadley for Voyce 77, Brooks for King 77, Lock for Hart 77, Purdy for Worsley 77.
Scoring sequence: 3' Van Gisbergen (PG) 0-3, 5' Voyce (T) 0-8, Van Gisbergen (C) 0-10, 8' King (DG) 0-13, 12' Goode (PG) 3-13, 27' Goode (PG) 6-13, 33' Van Gisbergen (PG) 6-16, 37' Van Gisbergen (PG) 6-19, 44' Van Gisbergen (PG) 6-22, 54' Goode (PG) 9-22, 70' Van Gisbergen (T) 9-27, Van Gisbergen (C) 9-29, 75' Van Gisbergen (PG) 9-32, 77' Bemand (T) 14-32, 78' Hoadley (T) 14-37, Van Gisbergen (C) 14-39.
Referee: Chris White (England)
Attendance: 66,000.
27 MAY 2006
SALE SHARKS (23) 45, LEICESTER TIGERS (10) 20 (Twickenham)
Sale Sharks: Jason Robinson (capt); Mark Cueto(1T), Mark Taylor, Elvis Seveali'i, Oriol Ripol Fortuny(1T); Charlie Hodgson(1C, 6PG, 1DG)(MoM), Richard Wigglesworth; Lionel Faure, Andy Titterrell, Stuart Turner; Chris Jones, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe; Jason White, Magnus Lund(1T), Sebastien Chabal.
Bench: Sebastien Bruno, Barry Stewart, Dean Schofield, Christian Day, Ben Foden, Valentin Courrent(1C), Chris Mayor(1T).
Replacements used: Schofield for Fernandez Lobbe 41, Bruno for Titterrell 51, Stewart for Turner 51, Day for Chabal 66, Mayor for Taylor 67, Foden for Wigglesworth 74, Chabal for Jones 76, Courrent for Seveali'i 79.
Leicester Tigers: Geordan Murphy; Alesana Tuilagi, Ollie Smith, Daryl Gibson, Tom Varndell; Andy Goode(2C, 2PG), Harry Ellis; Graham Rowntree, George Chuter, Julian White; Leo Cullen, Ben Kay; Shane Jennings, Lewis Moody(1T), Martin Corry (capt).
Bench: James Buckland, Michael Holford, James Hamilton(1T), Louis Deacon, Austin Healey, Leon Lloyd, Sam Vesty.
Replacements used: Vesty for Alesana Tuilagi 46, L.Deacon for Jennings 51, Healey for Ellis 51, Hamilton for Cullen 54, Holford for Rowntree 59, Buckland for Chuter 62, Lloyd for Smith 64.
Scoring sequence: 3' Hodgson (PG) 3-0, 8' Cueto (T) 8-0, 9' Moody (T) 8-5, Goode (C) 8-7, 17' Lund (T) 13-7, 31' Hodgson (PG) 16-7, 36' Goode (PG) 16-10, 40' Ripol (T) 21-10, Hodgson (C) 23-10, 43' Goode (PG) 23-13, 45' Hodgson (PG) 26-13, 48' Hodgson (PG) 29-13, 63' Hodgson (PG) 32-13, 70' Hodgson (DG) 35-13, 74' Hamilton (T) 35-18, Goode (C) 35-20, 78' Hodgson (PG) 38-20, 80' Mayor (T) 43-20, Courrent (C) 45-20.
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Attendance: 58,000.
12 MAY 2007
GLOUCESTER RUGBY (6) 16, LEICESTER TIGERS (22) 44 (Twickenham)
Gloucester Rugby: Willie Walker(1C, 3PG); Iain Balshaw, James Simpson-Daniel, Anthony Allen, Mark Foster; Ryan Lamb(1T), Peter Richards; Nick Wood, Olivier Azam, Carlos Nieto; Will James, Alex Brown; Peter Buxton (capt), Andy Hazell, Luke Narraway.
Bench: Mefin Davies, Christian Califano, Adam Eustace, Jake Boer, Rory Lawson, Jack Adams, Jon Goodridge.
Replacements used: Boer for Buxton 15, Davies for Azam 48, Lawson for Richards 53, Califano for Wood 55, Eustace for James 78.
Leicester Tigers: Geordan Murphy; Seru Rabeni, Dan Hipkiss, Ollie Smith, Alesana Tuilagi(2T)(MoM); Andy Goode(1T, 3C, 1PG), Frank Murphy(1T); Marcos Ivan Ayerza, George Chuter, Julian White; Louis Deacon, Ben Kay; Lewis Moody(1T), Shane Jennings(1T), Martin Corry (capt)(1T).
Bench: James Buckland, Alex Moreno, Leo Cullen, Brett Deacon, Ben Youngs, Sam Vesty, Tom Varndell.
Replacements used: Cullen for L.Deacon 56, Vesty for Smith 58, Varndell for Rabeni 63, Moreno for White 67, Youngs for F.Murphy 67, Buckland for Chuter 70, B.Deacon for Jennings 70.
Scoring sequence: 5' Walker (PG) 3-0, 10' F.Murphy (T) 3-5, Goode (C) 3-7, 24' Walker (PG) 6-7, 32' A.Tuilagi (T) 6-12, 35' Goode (PG) 6-15, 39' Corry (T) 6-20, Goode (C) 6-22, 43' Walker (PG) 9-22, 45' Goode (T) 9-27, 52' A.Tuilagi (T) 9-32, Goode (C) 9-34, 64' Jennings (T) 9-39, 66' Lamb (T) 14-39, Walker (C) 16-39, 79' Moody (T) 16-44.
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Attendance: 59,400.
GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP FINAL FACTFILE
• This season’s Premiership final is the first not to be contested by the top two teams in the league table: London Wasps finished 2nd and Leicester Tigers 4th. Only one number one seeded club has ever won the Premiership final – Sale Sharks in 2005/06.
• Just two players have scored two tries in a single Premiership final: Josh Lewsey for Wasps against Gloucester in 2003, and Alesana Tuilagi for Leicester against Gloucester last year.
• The most points by an individual in a single final is 26 by Mark van Gisbergen from a try, 3 conversions and 5 penalty goals in the 2005 encounter with Leicester.
• Only one player has served time in the sinbin at a Premiership final: when Tony Spreadbury sent Andy Gomarsall (Gloucester) there during the 2003 final
• The fastest try in a Premiership final was two minutes scored by Josh Lewsey for Wasps in 2003.
• There has been a total of five dropped goals scored in a Premiership final; Wasps Alex King has scored three of those (one each in his three finals), the others were kicked by Bath’s Chris Malone in 2004, and Sale’s Charlie Hodgson in 2006.
• The youngest player to play in the final is Ben Youngs who was aged just 17 years 249 days when he came on as a 67th minute replacement for Leicester during last season’s final, whilst the youngest starter is Adrian Garvey for Gloucester aged 20 years 40 days in 2003.
• At the other end of the spectrum the oldest finalist is Leicester’s Neil Back, who was aged 36 at the 2005 final, although Andy Deacon of Gloucester would have been even older had he taken to the field from the replacements bench during the 2003 final.
• Just two players have appeared in a Premiership final for different clubs: Rob Fidler for Gloucester in 2003 and Bath in 2004, and Martyn Wood for Wasps in 2003 and Bath in 2004. Gloucester’s Peter Richards was a bench replacement against Bath in 2004 but did not get onto the pitch.
• The lead has changed hands on just two occasions in Previous Premiership finals: in 2004 Bath had been leading 6-3 after 64 minutes when Stuart Abbott scored a try to give Wasps the title, and last season Gloucester’s Willie Walker had given his side an early 3-0 lead after just five minutes until five minutes later a Frank Murphy try took the Tigers ahead – Leicester were not caught again!
• Lawrence Dallaglio is the only player to have picked up two Man of the Match awards in Premiership finals, doing so in 2004 and 2005. The other players to have won the award being Alex King (Wasps 2003), Charlie Hodgson (Sale 2006) and Alesana Tuilagi (Leicester 2007).
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
10/09/05 - London Wasps 29-29 Leicester Tigers
22/04/06 - Leicester Tigers 20-19 London Wasps
26/11/06 - London Wasps 13-19 Leicester Tigers
28/04/07 - Leicester Tigers 40-26 London Wasps
30/09/07 - London Wasps 17-20 Leicester Tigers
29/03/08 - Leicester Tigers 19-24 London Wasps
The last team other than Gloucester to have defeated London Wasps in the Guinness Premiership was Harlequins 26-25 at the Stoop on 20 October. Wasps are attempting to win a 4th Premiership title after their three successive wins in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 finals.
The Londoners have won the last nine finals they have contested in all competitions (eight at Twickenham) since losing the 1997/98 Cup final to Saracens. Wasps have lost twice at Twickenham in the Premiership: 11-13 to Saracens on 4 September 2004 and 19-29 also to Saracens on 15 September 2007, both in opening weekend double-header matches.
Defending Guinness Premiership title holders Leicester Tigers’ only defeat in their last four matches was 25-28 at Newcastle Falcons on 4 May.
The Tigers are playing in a 4th successive Premiership final and are looking for a 6th Premiership title in all. Since beating Gloucester 44-16 in last season’s Guinness Premiership final Leicester have lost on their two appearances at Twickenham: 9-25 to Wasps in the European Cup final last May, and 6-23 to Ospreys in the EDF Energy Cup final on 12 April.
Wasps and Leicester have met on three occasions this season, with the Tigers taking the Guinness Premiership game 20-17 at Adams Park on 30 September and the EDF Energy Cup semi-final 43-24 at Millennium Stadium on 22 March, whilst Wasps exacted some revenge at Welford Road on 29 March with a 24-19 victory.
The two rivals have met in two previous Twickenham finals with Wasps victorious on both occasions: 39-14 in the Premiership final on 14 May 2005, and 25-9 in the European Cup final on 20 May 2007.
WASPS v TIGERS IN 2007/08
GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP
30 SEPTEMBER 2007
LONDON WASPS (11) 17, LEICESTER TIGERS (14) 20 (Adams Park)
London Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen(1PG); Chris Bishay, Fraser Waters, Riki Flutey, Tom Voyce(1T); Dave Walder(1PG, 1DG), Mark McMillan; Tim Payne, Joe Ward, Michael Holford; George Skivington, Tom Palmer; John Hart (capt), James Haskell, Richard Birkett.
Bench: James Buckland, Tom French, Hugo Ellis, Dan Leo, Simon Amor, Rob Hoadley, Danny Cipriani(1PG).
Replacements used: Amor for McMillan 41, Leo for Skivington 52, Cipriani for Walder 52, French for Payne 54, Hoadley for Van Gisbergen 59, Buckland for Ward 69, Van Gisbergen for Hoadley 69, Ellis for Birkett 77.
Leicester Tigers: Johne Murphy(1PG); Matt Smith, Ollie Smith(1T), Sam Vesty, Tom Varndell; Andy Goode (sin bin 35-47)(4PG), Christophe Laussucq; Boris Stankovich, Benjamin Kayser, David Young; Louis Deacon (capt), Marco Wentzel; Jordan Crane, Luke Abraham, Brett Deacon.
Bench: Mefin Davies, Alex Moreno, Richard Blaze, Ben Herring, Ben Youngs, Matt Cornwell, Tom Youngs.
Replacements used: B.Youngs for Laussucq 55, Cornwell for Vesty 57, Davies for Kayser 59, Blaze for Wentzel 62, Moreno for Young 69, Vesty for Cornwell 70, Herring for Abraham 74.
Scoring sequence: 3' Walder (DG) 3-0, 5' Goode (PG) 3-3, 9' Smith (T) 3-8, 15' Voyce (T) 8-8, 30' Goode (PG) 8-11, 35' Van Gisbergen (PG) 11-11, 37' J.Murphy (PG) 11-14, 42' Walder (PG) 14-14, 64' Goode (PG) 14-17, 68' Cipriani (PG) 17-17, 77' Goode (PG) 17-20.
Referee: Sean Davey (England)
Attendance: 7313.
EDF ENERGY CUP - SEMI FINAL
22 MARCH 2008
LEICESTER TIGERS (13) 34, LONDON WASPS (12) 24 (Millennium Stadium)
Leicester Tigers: Johne Murphy; Tom Varndell, Seru Rabeni(1T), Dan Hipkiss(1T), Alesana Tuilagi; Andy Goode(1T, 4C, 2PG), Harry Ellis; Boris Stankovich, George Chuter, Martin Castrogiovanni(1T); Louis Deacon, Ben Kay; Tom Croft, Ben Herring, Martin Corry (capt).
Bench: Benjamin Kayser, Marcos Ayerza, Julian White, Jordan Crane, Christophe Laussucq, Matt Cornwell, Sam Vesty.
Replacements used: Ayerza for Stankovich 45, Crane for Herring 49, White for Castrogiovanni 51, Castrogiovanni for White 61, White for Castrogiovanni 72, Kayser for Chuter 74, Vesty for Goode 77.
London Wasps: Josh Lewsey; Paul Sackey(2T), Fraser Waters, Riki Flutey, David Doherty; Danny Cipriani(2T, 1C), Eoin Reddan; Tim Payne, Raphael Ibanez, Phil Vickery; George Skivington, Tom Palmer; John Hart, James Haskell, Lawrence Dallaglio (capt).
Bench: Joe Ward, Tom French, Richard Birkett, Dan Leo, Mark McMillan, Dave Walder(1C), Dominic Waldouck.
Replacements used: Walder for Doherty 57, Leo for Hart 61, Waldouck for Waters 66, Ward for Ibanez 72, McMillan for Reddan 72, French for Vickery 74, Birkett for Palmer 76.
Scoring sequence: 16' Goode (PG) 3-0, 23' Cipriani (T) 3-5, Cipriani (C) 3-7, 28' Goode (PG) 6-7, 30' Sackey (T) 6-12, 34' Goode (T) 11-12, Goode (C) 13-12, 44' Rabeni (T) 18-12, Goode (C) 20-12, 56' Hipkiss (T) 25-12, Goode (C) 27-12, 61' Sackey (T) 27-17, 68' Castrogiovanni (T) 32-17, Goode (C) 34-17, 76' Cipriani (T) 34-22, Walder (C) 34-24.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Attendance: 40018.
GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP
29 MARCH 2008
LEICESTER TIGERS (9) 19, LONDON WASPS (14) 24 (Welford Road)
Leicester Tigers: Johne Murphy; Tom Varndell, Seru Rabeni(1T), Dan Hipkiss, Alesana Tuilagi; Andy Goode(1C, 4PG), Harry Ellis; Marcos Ayerza, George Chuter, Martin Castrogiovanni; Louis Deacon, Ben Kay; Martin Corry (capt), Tom Croft, Jordan Crane.
Bench: Benjamin Kayser, Julian White, Richard Blaze, Brett Deacon, Christophe Laussucq, Sam Vesty, Ollie Smith.
Replacements used: Blaze for Kay 49, White for Castrogiovanni 61, Kayser for Chuter 65, B.Deacon for L.Deacon 71.
London Wasps: Danny Cipriani(1T, 1C); Paul Sackey, Fraser Waters(2T), Riki Flutey (sin bin 30-41), Josh Lewsey; Dave Walder(2C, 1PG), Eoin Reddan; Tim Payne, Raphael Ibanez (capt), Phil Vickery; Simon Shaw, Tom Palmer; James Haskell, Tom Rees, John Hart.
Bench: James Buckland, Pat Barnard, Tom French, George Skivington, Mark McMillan, Dominic Waldouck, Rob Webber.
Replacements used: Barnard for Vickery 57, French for Payne 57, Waldouck for Walder 61, Buckland for Ibanez 65, Webber for Rees 71.
Scoring sequence: 2' Goode (PG) 3-0, 8' Waters (T) 3-5, Walder (C) 3-7, 20' Waters (T) 3-12, Walder (C) 3-14, 24' Goode (PG) 6-14, 31' Goode (PG) 9-14, 47' Rabeni (T) 14-14, Goode (C) 16-14, 60' Walder (PG) 16-17, 62' Cipriani (T) 16-22, Cipriani (C) 16-24, 75' Goode (PG) 19-24.
Referee: Chris White (England)
Attendance: 17498.
Dallaglio keen to share limelight
Victorious Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio bowed out of professional rugby after his side's 26-16 win over Leicester in the Guinness Premiership final, but was eager to share the spotlight.
The build-up to the match has been largely centred on the former England captain's exit but he believes everyone associated with the club should share in his limelight following the win at Twickenham.
Simon Shaw put in a man-of-the-match performance, while there were tries from Tom Rees and Josh Lewsey and six successful kicks from Mark van Gisbergen.
''We've deflected all talk of sentiment,'' said Dallaglio on Sky Sports 1.
''I was very wary that today was about Wasps as a club.
''Today was not about me, it was a wonderful team effort and wonderful squad effort and I'd like to thank everyone for turning up.
''This win is testament to all the staff, players, coaches and fans of this great club. We're not blessed with the greatest of resources but we have heart and soul.
''This is a club, like Leicester, that does everything it can for England rugby. We were both very depleted after the World Cup but came back. You feel it is one of your greatest achievements; to come from 10th in the table round about Christmas time was a great effort.''
Dallaglio also hailed retiring BBC Radio Five Live commentator Alastair Hignell, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis.
''Great rugby is about courage and character. I'd like to dedicate today's win to someone else with great courage and character, Alastair Hignell.''
England star Simon Shaw admitted a strong start had been vitally important.
''Obviously we played well in the first half but went to sleep a bit during the second half,'' he said.
''The first half was the focus for us going into the game, because whenever we have started well against Leicester, we have always ended up winning.
''It was crucial we got off to a good start.''
As for Dallaglio, Shaw added: ''We didn't want it to be all about the big man.
''It's about every single man who put it in all season.''
Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards joined in the praise of Dallaglio and was also pleased his side were able to see through their fine late season charge.
''It's a fitting way for him to go out,'' he said.
''The reception from the crowd shows how much respect he has in the game, even among away fans. He's not just a player to me, he's like family.''
Edwards added: ''We've basically been playing play-off rugby since November. It was just a matter of trying to win the next game.
''I think we really started to believe in the Six Nations when we got into a run of winning games without the internationals. That's something we haven't done in the last two or three years.
''I think that's a great sign of resilience, but we knew we'd have a tough time against Leicester, who are great competitors also.''
Leicester captain Martin Corry admitted the poor first half cost his side: ''Yes, pretty much.
''It's a side which is much talked about and they were always going to make it tough to chase. Everything we said we shouldn't do, we did in the first half.
''We always felt, even when we went behind, that when we hit our game we're a very difficult side to beat. Today summed up the whole season - when we don't do our game we look quite ordinary, when we do we look very dangerous.''
Speculation surrounds the future of Tigers chief Marcelo Loffreda but Corry was in no mood to consider changes.
''We have just got to the Guinness Premiership final, we have just lost the Guinness Premiership final,'' he told Sky Sports.
''Let's have all the emotion. The season has been has been unacceptable in terms of inconsistency.
''But whatever changes we need to make, whether that is just small tinkering here and there, we'll show true Leicester spirit next season and come back even better and even stronger.''
Wasps' skipper Lawrence Dallaglio lifts the Premiership silverware
Photo copyright: © Getty Images
Wasps power to Premiership title
London Wasps clinched this season's Guinness Premiership crown with a 26-16 victory over Leicester Tigers at Twickenham.
England World Cup captain Phil Vickery will return from injury when Wasps contest tomorrow's Guinness Premiership final against Leicester at Twickenham.
Vickery has been sidelined since suffering a knee ligament problem in mid-April.
He will miss England's New Zealand tour next month, with Bath lock Steve Borthwick taking leadership duties.
Vickery though, has trained fully this week, and reclaims the number three shirt as Wasps target a fourth Premiership title in six seasons.
Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan said: ''I am delighted that Phil has come through a week's training and contact to be fit for Saturday.
''It helps to make up for the loss of Danny Cipriani and Tom Voyce for this game.''
Cipriani, who is recovering from an ankle injury that means he might not play again this year, is replaced at fly-half by Riki Flutey.
Flutey, the Professional Rugby Players' Association player of the year, switches from centre, with Dominic Waldouck and Fraser Waters forging Wasps' midfield partnership.
Voyce's absence through a shoulder injury means Josh Lewsey lines up on the wing, with Mark Van Gisbergen called into the side at full-back.
Both Waters, who joins Italian club Treviso this summer, and captain Lawrence Dallaglio make their final appearances in Wasps colours.
It will be World Cup winner Dallaglio's 339th competitive appearance for Wasps. He starts at number eight alongside back-row colleagues James Haskell and Tom Rees.
Tigers head coach Marcelo Loffreda has named the same XV that recorded a 26-25 win over Gloucester a fortnight ago for Saturday's clash.
Martin Corry skippers the side from the blindside flank, with Ben Herring and Jordan Crane joining him in the back row.
Marco Wentzel and Ben Kay start at lock, with Boris Stankovich, Mefin Davies and Julian White named in the front row.
An all-international backline features Irishman Geordan Murphy at full back, Alesana Tuilagi of Samoa on the left wing and All Black Aaron Mauger at inside centre, with England caps Tom Varndell, Dan Hipkiss, Andy Goode and Harry Ellis completing the line up.
The replacements bench sees one change from the memorable win at Kingsholm, with France A hooker Ben Kayser replacing George Chuter.
Tomorrow's final will attract a world record club attendance, eclipsing the crowd of 81,076 that witnessed last season's Heineken Cup final between Wasps and Leicester.
The previous best attendance for a Premiership final was 66,000 when the two clubs met in 2005.
London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Dominic Waldouck, 11 Josh Lewsey, 10 Riki Flutey, 9 Eoin Reddan, 1 Tim Payne, 2 Raphael Ibanez, 3 Phil Vickery, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Tom Palmer, 6 James Haskell, 7 Tom Rees, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c)
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Pat Barnard, 18 Richard Birkett, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Mark McMillan, 21 Jeremy Staunton, 22 John Hart
Leicester Tigers: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 Mefin Davies, 3 Julian White, 4 Marco Wentzel, 5 Ben Kay, 6 Martin Corry (c), 7 Ben Herring, 8 Jordan Crane
Replacements: 16 Ben Kayser, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Christophe Laussucq, 21 Sam Vesty, 22 Ayoola Erinle
|
|
|
.jpg){kind=small}
