London Wasps completed a magnificent treble of Zurich Premiership titles with a dominant 39–14 victory over Leicester Tigers at a packed Twickenham, Mark van Gisbergen's 26-point masterclass sealing Warren Gatland's final trophy before his return to New Zealand.
London Wasps secured an historic third consecutive Zurich Premiership title with a stunning 39–14 demolition of Leicester Tigers at Twickenham, in front of a capacity 66,000 crowd. The margin of victory belied the occasion — this was a final that had everything: a dreamlike Wasps opening, Johnson's emotional last bow, and a display of attacking rugby that left the watching world in no doubt that Wasps were the most accomplished club side in England.
The result ruined the former England and Lions skipper's big day out, ensuring his final fling in a Tigers shirt — and remarkable 500th first-class appearance — ended with an emphatic defeat. Leicester never recovered from a scintillating Wasps opening that saw them score 13 unanswered points in just eight minutes, with England stars Joe Worsley, Josh Lewsey and Simon Shaw producing towering displays.
Mark van Gisbergen opened proceedings with a composed 45-metre penalty on two minutes. Then Lawrence Dallaglio's crunching tackle on Ollie Smith forced the ball loose and Tom Voyce reacted quickest, sprinting 50 metres unopposed. Van Gisbergen converted. Three minutes later, Alex King dropped a neat left-footed goal from 35 metres — 13-0 inside eight minutes, and Johnson was visibly glowering at his colleagues.
Leicester's frustration boiled over when Neil Back — never far from controversy — punched Joe Worsley off the ball, leaving the flanker spitting blood on the turf. Back escaped a card despite the obvious provocation, and although Wasps were awarded a penalty, Van Gisbergen missed it. It hardly mattered: scrum-half Harry Ellis limped off midway through the first half after an accidental collision, replaced by Scott Bemand. Andy Goode kicked two penalties for Leicester, but Van Gisbergen replied with two more — including a remarkable effort off the crossbar from 50 metres — to give Wasps a 19–6 half-time lead.
Leicester coach John Wells sent on Lions Graham Rowntree and Lewis Moody for the restart in a bid for fresh impetus. The Tigers did improve, but when Martin Johnson was penalised for a high tackle on fellow 2003 World Cup winner Matt Dawson, Van Gisbergen slotted his fourth successful kick — 22–6. Goode completed a hollow personal hat-trick of penalties on 51 minutes, but the only hat-trick of any significance was the one Wasps were building.
The champagne corks popped when Van Gisbergen collected a pass from Dallaglio, wrong-footed two defenders and touched down in the right corner — his own try, which he also converted. A fifth Van Gisbergen penalty on 68 minutes made it 32–14 after Bemand's consolation try for Leicester, then substitute Rob Hoadley crossed in the 79th minute, Van Gisbergen adding the extras to complete his 26-point personal haul.
Warren Gatland, who returned to New Zealand after the game to coach Waikato, was magnanimous in his farewell: "This is a squad of outstanding players. Three titles in three years — that doesn't happen by accident. I'm incredibly proud." As the trophy was lifted by Lawrence Dallaglio, Wasps could savour the knowledge that they had, quite simply, been the best club side in England for three consecutive seasons.