Leicester legend Martin Johnson hails 'amazing' career of Dallaglio

Dallaglio will make his 339th and final competitive appearance in a Wasps shirt tomorrow, bowing out against Guinness Premiership title rivals Leicester.  

It is three years since England's 2003 World Cup-winning captain Johnson made a similar exit following a Premiership final between the two dominant English clubs of rugby's professional era.  

Tough competitors: Wasps' captain Lawrence Dallaglio (left) shakes hands with Leicester's captain Martin Johnson after the English rugby union premiership final in 2005

On that occasion, Dallaglio ruined his retirement party as Wasps completed a title hat-trick by thumping Johnson's Tigers 39-14.  

Now, it is turn Dallaglio's turn to go - and it will be in front of a world record club attendance of more than 81,000.  

Current England manager Johnson said: "Lawrence has had an amazing career.  

"To achieve all the things he has over such a long time and go on to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, is amazing.  

"He has had his ups and downs on the way. He missed (virtually all) the Lions tour in 2005 through injury, and picked up a serious knee injury on the 2001 tour, but he came back from that and was a key part of England's World Cup win."

Dallaglio, who won 85 England caps to Johnson's 84, played every minute of all seven games during the 2003 World Cup campaign.  

"My abiding memories of Lawrence will be of his leadership during the 2003 World Cup when we were under tremendous pressure," Johnson told the Gillette Rugby Podcast.  

"I will remember that time when he helped us all get through and be successful. His leadership was his personality and his performance on the pitch. He was a big influence on the whole squad."  

Wasps' bid for a fourth league title in six seasons has been boosted by Johnson's successor as World Cup captain - prop Phil Vickery - making his return from injury.   Vickery has been sidelined since suffering a knee ligament problem in mid-April.  

He will miss England's New Zealand tour next month, with Bath lock Steve Borthwick taking leadership duties. Vickery though, has trained fully this week, and reclaims the number three shirt.  

Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan said: "I am delighted that Phil has come through a week's training and contact to be fit for Saturday. It helps to make up for the loss of Danny Cipriani and Tom Voyce for this game."

Cipriani, who is recovering from a fracture dislocation of his ankle that means he might not play again this year, is replaced at fly-half by Riki Flutey.  

Flutey, the Professional Rugby Players' Association player of the year, switches from centre, with Dominic Waldouck and Fraser Waters forging Wasps' midfield partnership.  

It will be Waters' last Wasps outing before he joins Italian club Treviso this summer.

Elsewhere, Voyce's absence through a shoulder injury means Josh Lewsey lines up on the wing, with Mark Van Gisbergen called into the side at full-back.  

McGeechan added: "We are obviously delighted to have made it to the final, particularly from such an inauspicious beginning in September and October.  

"It will be a great occasion. Wasps versus Leicester is always a major encounter, but to be playing this one out in front of a record-breaking full house at Twickenham will be very exciting."  

Leicester boss Marcelo Loffreda has retained the side that pipped Gloucester in a thrilling Premiership semi-final two weeks ago as Tigers look to retain their title.  

One change on the bench sees hooker Benjamin Kayser featuring, which means England's George Chuter misses out on a place in the 22.  

Loffreda said: "It will be important for us all at the club if we can come back with a trophy.  

"With wins over Harlequins and Gloucester, the confidence of the team has changed in the last three weeks. Before those wins, our mental state was not as good as it is now.  

"We are in good shape. The last few weeks have given us a real push forward. We know all about the rivalry with Wasps and we are looking forward to it. 

"We have a lot of respect for Wasps, they are a great team in this sort of situation. They are full of outstanding players.  

"We must have conviction in our own principles and carry out our game plan."

Teams for Wasps versus Leicester, Guinness Premiership final, Twickenham, Saturday, kick off 3pm:  

Wasps: M Van Gisbergen; P Sackey, F Waters, D Waldouck, J Lewsey; R Flutey, E Reddan; T Payne, R Ibanez, P Vickery, S Shaw, T Palmer, J Haskell, T Rees, L Dallaglio (capt).   Replacements: J Ward, P Barnard, R Birkett, J Worsley, M McMillan, J Staunton, J Hart.  

Leicester: G Murphy; T Varndell, D Hipkiss, A Mauger, A Tuilagi; A Goode, H Ellis; B Stankovich, M Davies, J White, M Wentzel, B Kay, M Corry (capt), B Herring, J Crane.   Replacements: B Kayser, M Ayerza, R Blaze, T Croft, C Laussucq, S Vesty, A Erinle.   Referee: Wayne Barnes (Rugby Football Union).