Crane makes Cardiff pay the penalty

Number eight Crane was Leicester's unlikely hero at the end of a Millennium Stadium showdown that ended in unprecedented fashion.

With the teams locked at 26-26 after extra time, it came down to a penalty competition to decide who would face Leinster at Murrayfield on May 23.

And it was Crane who came up trumps, giving Leicester a 7-6 verdict on penalties, sending his kick from 22 metres between the posts after Blues' flanker Martyn Williams' missed attempt handed him his match-winning opportunity.

Blues' wing Tom James missed a chance just moments earlier to win the shoot-out 5-3, but he failed to hold his nerve and Leicester secured a place in their fifth Heineken final to also stay firmly on course for a third European and domestic double.

Reflecting on the late drama, Crane said: "I actually enjoyed it. I've taken a few kicks in training, although I have to say I am in no hurry to take another kick."

Leicester skipper Geordan Murphy added: "It is a nasty, horrible way to lose and I feel really sorry for the Cardiff boys.

"It is not much of a way to win either and we will have to play much better to beat Leinster in the final."

Murphy revealed that when James lined-up his kick he had called the Leicester players into a huddle to congratulate them on their efforts, almost as if he was anticipating a defeat.

"I told the players I was incredibly proud of them whatever happened with that next kick," he said. "I think we would have felt quite hard done by if we had lost the game, and we were still in the huddle when James missed."