I'm no cheat, says Back

Neil Back today defended his illegal hand-in-the-scrum manoeuvre that ensured European kings Leicester made Heineken Cup history, and claimed: ‘‘I did what I felt was necessary.’’

Back’s blatant act - committed during the dying stages of injury time - went unseen by French referee Joel Jutge.

Had an erratic Jutge spotted it though, then Back faced a probable sin-binning, leaving Leicester reduced to 14 men as Munster desperately chased a converted try that would have torn the cup from Tigers’ grasp.

With Munster pressing deep inside enemy territory, the England flanker knocked the ball away from scrum-half Peter Stringer’s hands and steered it back Leicester’s way.

It was all totally illegal, yet arguably proved the most important individual contribution on a day when England’s champion club collected unprecedented back-to-back European titles.

‘‘I did what I felt was necessary,’’ he said. ‘‘It was a risk, but I weighed it up and fortunately, it went our way.

‘‘I used all my experience of club and international rugby to ensure that we won the game. I am sure that other back-row players have done it in the past.

‘‘I don’t make a habit of it, but the game wasn’t won or lost on that incident and I don’t think that a big issue should be made of it.

‘‘I am not a cheat. I am a very committed player, and if anyone called me a cheat, then I would feel very upset.’’

Stringer admitted that Back’s version of daylight robbery had caught him completely off guard.

‘‘I have never lost control of the ball like that before, and I was livid at the time,’’ said the Irish international.

‘‘I thought that the referee might have seen it, but he didn’t and it was just one decision that went against us. It worked for Leicester.’’

Had Ronan O’Gara not lost his bottle and missed two penalties during the closing 14 minutes, then Munster would have entered that frenzied finale all square at 15-15.

Leicester though, held their nerve when it mattered most, succeeding where all five of their Heineken Cup-winning predecessors -Toulouse, Brive, Bath, Ulster and Northampton - had failed, in retaining northern hemisphere rugby’s premier club prize.

Tries in each half from wing Geordan Murphy and fly-half Austin Healey saw the Tigers home, Leicester possessing that decisive creative spark during a final that never came close to matching last year’s classic Paris confrontation with Stade Francais.

Leicester had just enough left in the tank after a stamina-sapping season, and the renowned ABC club of front-row trio Graham Rowntree, Richard Cockerill and Darren Garforth marked their testimonial year by gleefully holding aloft the gleaming silver trophy to an ecstatic response from Tigers’ adoring fans.

Munster, beaten European finalists twice in three seasons, critically failed to break down Leicester’s supremely-organised defence.

John O’Neill came closest 10 minutes from time, but a brilliant Healey cover tackle nudged him into the corner flag, an inspired piece of defending that was confirmed by video referee Didier Mene.

Not that O’Neill, a late replacement in the Munster side for broken hand victim Anthony Horgan, was overly impressed by Leicester’s performance.

‘‘I expected a lot more from them, to be honest,’’ he said. ‘‘They weren’t as physical as I thought they would be, and while they were very organised defensively, we had chances that we didn’t take. We have played against stronger sides this season.’’

When O’Neill and his team-mates reflect in the cold light of day though, they will surely note that Leicester had two early tries from wing Fereti Tuilagi and skipper Martin Johnson marginally disallowed, while a malfunctioning Munster lineout hardly helped their cause.

Munster lost eight lineouts on their own throw, and there can be little doubt that Leicester deserved the victory spoils.

Cardiff welcomed a record Heineken Cup final crowd - 74,000 under the spectacular Millennium Stadium closed roof - in scenes reminiscent of World Cup 99.

And Leicester almost made a sensational start, believing they had scored a try inside 40 seconds.

Full-back Tim Stimpson’s steepling kick caused panic in the Munster defence, but referee Jutge ruled that wing John Kelly had been illegally nudged as Tuilagi powered over to touch down.

Then Johnson crossed the Munster line, only for Jutge to decide that the lineout from which Leicester’s inspired leader caught Munster hooker Frankie Sheahan’s wayward throw, had been incorrectly assembled.

Johnson’s animated response graphically illustrated his sense of frustration.

Leicester knew could they could have been out of sight well inside the opening quarter.

As if to hammer home Leicester’s sense of injustice, O’Gara kicked Munster into a 6-0 lead before Tigers hit back in devastating fashion.

Tuilagi’s exquisitely-timed pass sent Stimpson galloping clear, and after the full-back dummied his way past opposite number Dominic Crotty and cut inside Stringer, Murphy rounded off a stunning move by touching down.

Stimpson missed the simple conversion attempt though, allowing Munster to preserve their advantage, albeit down to one point at 6-5.

Tigers were matched blow for blow up-front Munster’s forwards savoured every moment of the physical combat and after Leicester prop Darren Garforth was punished for incorrect scrum binding, O’Gara landed a glorious 50-metre penalty.

But punishing pressure on the Munster defence inside their 22 eventually took its toll, and it was Healey who struck gold.

Given the ball in space 10 metres out, Healey cantered through O’Gara’s attempted tackle and touched down near the posts, complete with soccer-style scoring salute.

The England star had so badly wanted another fly-half chance after some indecisive displays at No 10 this term, and he did not betray Leicester coach Dean Richards’ faith.

Stimpson’s conversion - his first successful kick - gave Leicester a 12-9 lead, but Munster came storming back after their 35-year-old prop Peter Clohessy received a standing ovation on his farewell appearance before retirement, when he was replaced by Marcus Horan.

Crucially though, O’Gara undermined Munster’s best efforts by missing goalkicks on 66 and 74 minutes, either side of Stimpson slotting his one successful penalty.

In the end, Leicester did just enough to write a new chapter in the magnificent history of Heineken Cup rugby, but Munster - especially O’Gara - were left wondering what might have been.