Joe launches a final countdown

Downtrodden and desperate, they upped sticks to Coventry as a last roll of the dice and a soaring phoenix emerged from the flames. It is a phoenix which will fly to Twickenham carrying many of the 29,051 who were at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday with them. “It’s great for this club to be back doing these sort of things. All those years ago people said we would be daft to think like this but a group of us young guys truly believed we could,” said Launchbury. “A lot of us have not been around finals before. It is new territory, exciting territory and it is going to be a great week.” The pity is that Kurtley Beale, the dazzling Australian fullback who scored the first try against Leicester, is unlikely to be part of the occasion after pulling a hamstring. No8 Nathan Hughes has a twisted left ankle, although, as director of rugby Dai Young pointed out, “he has another one”.

Thankfully for Wasps, Launchbury – man of the match in the semi-final – will be fit. He was a rumbling, omnipotent catalyst for the relentless late assault which broke Leicester after a spellbinding quarter of rugby.

Wasps’ lineout unravelled, chances came and went but finally – with Freddie Burns, who had delivered the pass of the season to Peter Betham for his first-half score, spark out – they worked the space for Bassett’s try.

Leicester director of rugby Matt O’Connor said: “We had to tackle and keep tackling. Against most other teams in the league you could probably get away with it but not against Wasps. They have so many threats.

“The one thing we have learned off the back of this season is perspective. It’s a game of footy. Unfortunately we weren’t good enough but we’ll walk away and hold our heads up and we’ll be better moving forward.”

The perspective he spoke of has been gleaned from the tragic situation surrounding Tom Youngs, whose wife has terminal cancer.

When he left the field in the 58th minute after a ferocious contribution, the Leicester captain did so to a standing ovation from Tigers and Wasps fans alike.

“He’s led from the front the whole season; he’s led from the front his whole career,” said O’Connor. “To be dealing with the situation he’s got with Tiff and her illness and still be fronting up, leading the guys and delivering over and above what you would expect from any captain is phenomenal. He’s a special player; a special bloke.”

WASPS – Tries:

Pens: LEICESTER – Tries: Cons: Pens: Con: