Wasps win Zurich Premiership

Wasps produced a blistering performance in searing Twickenham heat to be crowned English champions for the third time.

Lawrence Dallaglio’s team took the Zurich Premiership title despite finishing 15 points behind Gloucester during English rugby’s 22-game regular season.

But the 80-minute championship shoot-out suited them perfectly as they smashed Gloucester’s hopes of achieving their first domestic league and cup double.

Critics of the play-off system were inevitably crying foul, given Gloucester’s overwhelming dominance during eight months of blood, sweat and tears.

But on the big day, Gloucester just did not turn up and finished a distant second best as Wasps celebrated championship glory, even though they won just four of their opening 11 Premiership games this term.

Wasps never looked back after blazing into a 7-0 lead inside two minutes when England’s Josh Lewsey rounded off a thrilling Stewart Abbott break.

Gloucester’s reward for finishing in top spot was a three-week break before the final while Wasps had to overcome semi-final opponents Northampton.

Wasps also won the Parker Pen Challenge Cup final while Gloucester rested in the west country, but when it came to match sharpness, Gloucester were not at the races.

A crowd of around 40,000 – mainly from Gloucester – saw Wasps tease and torment their opponents throughout.

Man of the match Alex King, in the form of his life, was chief architect in Gloucester’s downfall, kicking 24 points from two drop goals, four penalties and three conversions.

Lewsey’s second try just before half-time finished Gloucester off. At 23-3 ahead, the second half was a formality and gave Wasps a third league title following previous championship successes in 1990 and 1997.

But while Wasps celebrated – flanker Joe Worsley scored their final try nine minutes from time – it was a nightmare send-off to Gloucester’s departing French stars Ludovic Mercier and Oliver Azam who are heading for Grenoble and Montferrand respectively next season.

With the sun beating down and pitchside temperatures approaching 90 degrees, the game predictably ran out of steam during the closing minutes, and it was a painful sight to see Gloucester appear such a dishevelled, disconsolate outfit.

Whether the play-off system is here to stay must be a question for Premiership chiefs to address, but Gloucester were the classic victims of how to lose a title on one afternoon after winning the championship race for eight months.

In fairness to Wasps, nobody could argue that they did not deserve their triumph on the day.

At times they were simply sensational and Gloucester just could not live with the pace and power.

Wasps went into the final having won 16 of their last 18 matches in all competitions, and they resembled a team at the peak of its power.