The best of enemies

THERE is nothing in sport quite like two champions battling it out in a winner-takes-all clash.

English rugby union’s end of season play-off system has struggled for universal acceptance but on Saturday it served up the showpiece final it was designed to create.

With the greatest of respect to west country duo Gloucester and Bath, who have been setting the pace in the Guiness Premiership for most of the season, Wasps versus Leicester was the final everybody wanted to see.

The two modern day rugby powerhouses may have had their troubles this season but, true to form, they produced enough in the final stages of the season to ensure they were again scrapping for a major trophy.

The Tigers have been struggling for form all season and only squeezed into the play-offs courtesy of a last day win against Harlequins before Andy Goode’s late drop goal in the semi-final saw them edge out Gloucester.

Wasps had a shocking start to the season and were 10th in the table in December, but a late-season surge saw them ease into the play-offs and now they are officially champions of England.

Their routes to Twickenham were forgotten as the giants took to the stage to contest another major prize.

Wasps had triumphed in the 2005 domestic final and the 2007 Heineken Cup final, when just like this season’s Champions League Final England’s two biggest clubs fought for Europe’s top prize.

The London side tasted success yet again today but Leicester will almost certainly have a chance for revenge in the near future.

Apart from a brilliantly incisive run and try by Josh Lewsey, the game may have been short in crowd pleasing skills and flash back play to charm the neutrals, but the ferocity of the fierce rivalry was apparent from the outset and was always going to be settled up front.

Leicester fought bravely but the Wasps pack, marshalled by the titanic Simon Shaw, played like men possessed as the Tigers threatened a late comeback, their sheer strength of will saw them through.

Three years ago Wasps had ruined Martin Johnson’s final game for Leicester but this time Lawrence Dallaglio was not to be denied a final trophy.

Dallaglio does seem to divide opinion amongst rugby fans and the outspoken number eight may have been more popular amongst England fans had he resisted the temptation to return to the international stage after retiring in 2004.

But nobody can question his commitment to Wasps and the undying loyalty he has shown to the club throughout his 18-year career.

With Dallaglio now a thing of the past, the final also gave an exciting glimpse of the future as his two young back-row colleagues produced fine displays.

James Haskell is the kind of bullocking, body-on-the-line player who fans love and all players want in their team.

Against Leicester he also showed good judgement and a tireless workrate and if he continues to show these attributes he can go right to the top of the game.

Tom Rees has been a star in the making for a while now but a combination of high expectations and unfortunate injuries have hampered his progress.

This final was tailor-made for him to show off his skills and he took the opportunity with hands to deliver a classic openside display.

These sides will undoubtedly meet again as they have shown time and time again throughout the years that they can produce the goods when it matters and that is what gets teams into finals.

It is an attribute shared by this year’s Heineken Cup winners Munster.

A decent, but not outstanding group of players seem to save their best for the competition and the bigger the stakes the more they seem to raise their game, resulting in success far beyond what the club’s resources warrant.

In all sports we have these champions who have the curious ability to find another gear when it really matters and these are the people who are often left with the biggest prizes.

To quote one of the most used cliches in sport: form is temporary, class is permanent.