Leicester Tigers 40 London Irish 8

This season's Premiership final will be contested between the teams who finished first and second in the table.  A strong display from the home team saw London Irish leave Welford Road with the unfamiliar taste of defeat in their mouths.  Not just defeat, either - a Tigers side with a point to prove surgically cut apart the Premiership's form team in all facets of the game.  The line-out, a potential weak spot for Tigers with Louis Deacon suspended, played a key part in their victory, with Bob Casey unable to disrupt the Leicester throw as he has so many others this season.

Harry Ellis, recalled to the side at the expense of Scott Bemand, created tries for Alex Tuilagi and Geordan Murphy (a score of such absolute genius that even Stuart Barnes was forced to applaud it), as well as scoring one of his own.  Leon Lloyd added two of his own after replacing Tom Varndell, who for once scored none.  Tigers won ball all over the field, with Lewis Moody's performance at the breakdown as effective as ever and Shane Jennings continuing a great debut season.

The final, between Tigers and Sale Sharks on the 27th of this month, will be a fascinating battle - pitting two forceful back rows against one another, as well as some of the most dangerous backs in the Northern Hemisphere.  There are potential match-winners all over the field, and it should be a captivating game.