I gained a little confidence in talking to a few bell weather Wasps fans, none more so than the indomitable Mrs. Dallaglio who believed that if we could get it right, then we really stood a chance.

As I took my seat, still nervous but fortified with pint of Heineken in hand, I knew what was required to stop Leicester in their tracks. And that was precisely the way that we beat Leinster in the quarter finals - a massive blitz of 'first up tackling'; do not under any circumstances allow the likes of Leinster or Leicester to cross that gain line - do not allow them to gain any momentum for they will make you pay.

That is why Wasps had to be woodchoppers yesterday and by God they were! For me, the highlight of the match, well worth the admission price alone was to see Tuilagi cut down by three Wasps heroes simultaneously, Sackey, Cipriani and the indefatigable Joe Worsley who literally climbed up his back to make sure he went down!

I think back to the final against Toulouse in 2004 and wonder how on earth we managed to win that game. Not so yesterday! It was the most perfectly planned, professional performance I have ever seen Wasps put together and credit here must go not only to the players for executing it so brilliantly, but also to the coaching staff: to Craig Dowd, to Ian McGeechan and, most of all, to Shaun Edwards, probably the worlds best defensive tactician.

Sunday's glorious victory cannot be put down to any individual act of brilliance but to sustained courage and discipline from the entire team. I don't think I can ever recall such dominance from the Wasps forwards over Leicester. They hunted like a pack of savages and literally rendered the Tigers toothless.

For once there were no weak links in the chain and after all the problems we have been experiencing at loose head the performance of Tom French was an utter revelation - he was even caught on TV laughing at Julian White's failed attempts to dominate him. What supreme confidence from a man who has had but one game for the 1st XV!

If Wasps have had one recurring achilles heel over the last few years, it is taking charge of the high ball and in particular defending the restart. Leicester are brilliant at exploiting this weakness and initially Wasps were indecisive. Thankfully this changed and thanks in no small part due to Simon Shaw. I think it fair to say that this season has seen his rugby career on the wane, but on Sunday he was a colussus at the restart and at the lineout too.

One of my past criticisms of Wasps is that they are not normally quick thinkers at the restart or set piece. Sundays game was different! Alex King's quick restart in the first half was wonderfully effective and whoever it was who figured out the short lineout ploy would work against Leicester should have his salary doubled!

As with the forwards, it is extremely difficult to pick out one back who was outstanding - they all were. I have to confess that at half time I wanted Alex King to be replaced by Danny Cipriani at stand off with Van Gisbergen at full back. Alex is a confidence player and his kicking from ground and out of hand was costing us points. What I did not observe until watching the game again later on TV was the utter dedication in which he threw himself into every tackle. It was outstanding, brave and I have no doubt inspired those around him. Congratulations to Fraser Waters for his deserved MOTM award. The defensive lines were truly outstanding throughout.

I do not think I have ever heard Stuart Barnes come out with so many superlatives about Wasps, but quite frankly they deserved them. It was a compellingly complete performance where they outfought, outthought and outmuscled this years deserved English champions.

As a final thought, I hope that Brian Ashton was watching this game. For it will tell him that no rugby team in the world is invincible, however well they are playing. If England could muster the same levels of dedication, determination and discipline that Wasps espoused on Sunday, they may yet turn the rugby form book on its head!

 There's No Escape !

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