Heineken Cup Final preview

Leicester Tigers will do battle with Leinster in Edinburgh on Saturday evening, with the title of Europe's finest club side the reward for the victor.

And, pleasingly, it is a game that many believe is too close to call. That may be a tired cliché and something of a cop-out but it is an accurate summation of the game.

Leicester, of course, have history on their side. Saturday’s game will be their fifth appearance in the Heineken Cup decider and they have two tournament wins to their name already, in 2001 and 2002.

Leinster, by contrast, are making their first ever final appearance and there are those that believe that Leicester’s experience will prove decisive. Indeed, Leinster have long been accused of failing to rise to the occasion and that is again being used to support the case for Leicester this weekend.

However, Leinster proved their mettle in the semi-finals when they dethroned Munster with a stunning 26-6 victory before a packed house at Croke Park.

As defending champions, Munster had been the overwhelming favorites to prevail. Indeed, they had just completed an incredibly commanding Magners League double over Leinster with a 22-5 victory at Thomond Park just two weeks previously.

However, Leinster shocked Munster and the rest of Europe – and the bookies – by producing one of the finest team performances in their history, one of incredible intensity and composure, to run out shockingly easy winners.

Leinster’s triumph that day was based on an awesome effort from their pack, which was led quite magnificently by the peerless Rocky Elsom, and they will need something equally impressive on Saturday.

Leicester are a phenomenal unit. On the face of it, they would appear to have the edge on Leinster in the set-piece and in the line-out.

Behind the scrum, meanwhile, they have the ever improving fly-half Sam Vesty and the always unpredictable Julien Dupuy, who could be playing his last game for The Tigers.

Then there’s the power of Alesana Tuilagi, who returns after suspsension to take the place of Johne Murphy, and the intelligence and flair of Geordan Murphy. This is a supremely well-rounded side. And one that, crucially, knows how to win.

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Nster.com