Martin Johnson’s Leicester farewell fell flat on its face on this present day in 2005 as a superb Wasps efficiency noticed them surge to their third successive Premiership title.
Wasps ruined the England World Cup-winning captain’s huge day trip in entrance of a 66,000 crowd at Twickenham, guaranteeing his remaining fling in a Tigers shirt earlier than retirement – and memorable five hundredth profession begin – ended with an emphatic 39-14 defeat.
Leicester by no means recovered from a scintillating Wasps opening that noticed them rating 13 unanswered factors in eight minutes, with former England stars Joe Worsley, Josh Lewsey and Simon Shaw producing towering shows.
Martin Johnson’s remaining look in a Leicester Tigers shirt earlier than retirement resulted in defeat (David Davies/PA)
(PA Archive)
Wasps skipper Lawrence Dallaglio was not far behind within the work-rate stakes both, as his workforce underlined their mastery of English rugby’s play-off system to land one other championship crown after as soon as once more ending second in the course of the common 22-game league marketing campaign.
Johnson, arguably the best English rugby participant of all time, was diminished to a mere mortal on a day when Tigers completed a distant second-best.
Neil Again, Johnson’s erstwhile colleague for membership and nation, additionally skilled a depressing send-off, as did Leicester coach John Wells.
Johnson captained England to World Cup glory in 2003 (David Davies/PA)
(PA Archive)
However Wasps supremo Warren Gatland stated goodbye in type earlier than returning house to New Zealand and a training job with the Waikato Chiefs.
After such a blistering begin, Wasps by no means appeared again, securing the title by way of 26 factors from full-back Mark van Gisbergen, together with a attempt, touchdowns from Tom Voyce and Rob Hoadley, plus an Alex King drop-goal.
Leicester might solely handle a Scott Bemand comfort attempt to three Andy Goode penalties in reply, leaving 35-year-old Johnson and firm with out silverware.
