Tigers sunk by Cipriani

The England outside-half was stuck out at full-back for most of this crucial Guinness Premiership match, only stepping into the No 10 shirt when Dave Walder was replaced in the 62nd minute.

Within 90 seconds of taking over, Cipriani jinked right, then left, from 10 metres out to go over and leave the Leicester defence floundering and Wasps 24-16 ahead.

Before yesterday Wasps had visited Welford Road on 17 previous occasions for a league match and lost them all.

And it looked as though No 18 was on its way after Wasps let Leicester back into a match they should have wrapped up before half time.

Two Fraser Waters tries in the first 22 minutes, the second after a wonderful cut out pass from Walder, put Wasps 14-3 ahead and coasting.

But the boot of Andy Goode, and a yellow card for Riki Flutey, brought Leicester to within striking distance either side of half-time. The dancing feet of Seru Rabeni, who weaved his way through the Wasps defence from 20 metres out, took Leicester into a 16-14 lead before a Walder penalty and the elusive running of Cipriani took them home. Defeat would have ended Wasps' chances of making the end of season play-offs.

"Wasps are a team that don't like losing and as we out of every other competition we had to win today to give us a chance of getting into the play-offs,' said Cipriani.

"I would rather play at 10 obviously but Shaun Edwards picked the team for a reason.

"The try was about instinct and following Shaun's advice of 'playing what is in front of us'. Hopefully ,I have put my hand up for outside-half now."

Cipriani's intervention sent Wasps sixth in the table, seven points behind fourth-placed Leicester, but the Londoners have two games in hand.

Even Leicester coach Marcelo Loffreda had time to appreciate the skills of Cipriani.

"He looks like he plays without pressure," said Loffreda. "He saw a gap against us and took it, he is a really great player."