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'Wasps pride themselves on winning games on defence'

For me, it's a fitting final. The two top European club sides are both English and you've got guys like Dallaglio, White, Corry, Vickery and others trying to impress from a World Cup perspective.

Listen to Mike Catt’s final preview

Wasps will love the fact that they're underdogs but they didn't have a competitive match last weekend whereas Leicester did. In the past, Wasps have always been very successful by continually having those games through the play-offs and being involved in various cups whereas Leicester have had that luxury this time. Wasps are big game players and are capable of winning things and they know exactly what it takes but if Leicester perform the way they did on the weekend against Gloucester they'll be very tough to beat!

Tuilagi is an awesome player and the guy everyone's talking about but he won't have the kind of freedom against Wasps as he enjoyed against Gloucester. Whoever's playing at 10 for Wasps, whether Alex King or Cipriani, they surely won't kick as badly as Ryan Lamb did in the Premiership final! Defensively, Wasps are extremely good and they won't give Leicester any space or time to do anything by using their rush defence. I don't think you'll see Tuilagi have as much space unless they kick badly and give him time to get a head of speed up. Wasps pride themselves on winning games purely on their defence. Their set-piece isn't great but they still score tries through guys like Tom Voyce and Paul Sackey. Wasps' work rate is massive and good as Tuilagi is, Tom Voyce and Paul Sackey have been great so Tuilagi won't have it easy.

Tuilagi often cuts inside through the 10-12 channel so I don't think Wasps will mind who marks him on the wing. Rabini and Tuilagi often prefer to come off their wings and run through the 10-12 channel and Wasps will be ready for that.

“Tuilagi won’t have it easy”

Everyone's written Lawrence (Dallaglio) off and I'm sure he'll want to make sure he goes off on a winning note and plays exceptionally well, which we know he can do. Harry Ellis will be a big loss for Leicester. As I know myself, injuries do happen and it's how well you come back from them that counts. He's actually been injury plagued all season but the games he's played for England in the 6 Nations were extremely good. I thought Murphy played quite well for Ellis last weekend but with the Wasps rush defence, Murphy and Goode have to be on top form and change their plan of attack continuously otherwise they'll be under enormous pressure.

Many people are predicting an easy win for Leicester but I don't think it will be as clear cut as that. Leicester, of course, have the added incentive of Pat Howard going home and wanting to do the treble for him. Knowing Martin Corry as I do, he won't be happy with two out of three and that's the mentality they have.

If I had to go for a prediction I'd go with the favourites . . . just! But really I think this one's too hard to call.

Mike Catt.

Do you agree with Catty? Have your say on who you think will win the Heineken Cup final

16th May 2007