News

Corry and Lol's final face-off

May 26 2008

The Guinness Premiership is down to its final two contenders with old foes Wasps and Leicester pitting their wits against each other once more at Twickenham on Saturday.

It's sure to be one heck of an arm-wrestle in the expected sunshine, but there's some real dynamism walking out at HQ with the likes of Alesana Tuilagi, Paul Sackey, Tom Varndell and Riki Flutey sure to cut loose in patches - following on from the Sevens style of last week on the same turf.

Yet whilst the opposing backlines will intrigue - even without the precocious talent of Danny Cipriani on show - it is in the cauldrons where the spotlight is sure to pointing for the next six days.

Come 14:55 BST, when the knocks on respective changing room doors sound, out will troop the team leaders - a tear-wiping Lawrence Dallaglio and scabby-nosed Martin Corry poised to go toe-to-toe for one final hurrah.

And how fitting that the contest should be at the home of English rugby, just as Dallaglio's playing script writer's ink dries up.

So, what can we expect from these two trophyless outfits in the GP's domestic showpiece?

Looking back, Leicester were outgunned and outthought in the Heineken Cup last year as they saw their treble dream extinguished with an ice-cold sting in Wasps' stampede.

One got the sense that the London club had done their homework thoroughly that day, and there's no doubt that both have completed their game plans and research to an equally clinical high standard this time around.

But it's where both teachers will be honing their weapons at kick-off that will be the nagging question.

On the Tigers' piece of paper, the suited and one-booted Cipriani coupled with Voyce will obviously be big losses to Ian McGeechan's men - with their constant attacking threat a major part of Wasps' late-season arsenal.

And this is why I see the midfield exchanges as where the battle will be targeted and contested by Leicester in particularly!

Blossoming pivot Andy Goode found his range against a deflating Gloucester side in the semi-final at Kingsholm and with those long locks (at least down his neck) flowing, his work with dynamic duo Aaron Mauger and Dan Hipkiss is one facet where the Tigers can pick some locks.

Add to that the wing balance of power-runner Tuilagi and the out-and-out pace of Varndell and I believe the Tigers hold the slight edge come game day.

And what a story it would be with former Puma boss Marcelo Loffreda seemingly struggling in his new den, while assistant Richard Cockerill publicly wrote off his side's chances of glory pre their last-ditch play-off emergence!

Will it be Corry or Dallaglio's day at HQ?

By Adam Kyriacou