London Wasps 27 - 20 Toulouse
Frenchmen have long revered Percy Bush, a Welsh outside-half from the early years of this century, as one of the founders of their game during his subsequent years as British representative in Le Havre.
They will, though, be less appreciative of the echo of Bush's most famous moment in the way Toulouse lost a spellbinding Heineken Cup final to Wasps. In 1905 Bush's hesitation in touching down a rolling ball cost Cardiff victory over the first All Blacks, as a New Zealand player chased up to steal the touch-down.
Ninety-nine years on Toulouse full-back Clement Poitrenaud waited at the corner-flag with the scores level as a kick rolled down the left hand touchline. While he hesitated Wasps scrum-half Robert Howley, a former Cardiff player himself, dived to touch down as the ball crossed the line, and a remarkable match was won and lost.
Toulouse will wonder how they came to lose after enjoying position and possession for much of the afternoon and generating passages of quite extraordinary flair, flow and virtuosity, particularly in an extraordinary spell in the ten minutes before half-time.
But Wasps´ extraordinary defence confined them to a single try, touched down by outside-half Yann Delaigue two minutes before the break to cut the Frenchmen's interval deficit to 13-11. The Wasps scored three tries themselves. Their relentless covering and control of the breakdown forced Toulouse into ever more desperate improvisation, leading eventually to handling errors and turnovers.
Meanwhile, Wasps took their chances, with full-back Mark van Gisbergen consistently involved. He landed their first penalty after 14 minutes, cutting back the six-point advantage Toulouse built through two early Delaigue penalties, then Wasps started the move that led to their first try - a superb, multi-phase move that came about thanks to their control of the breakdown and ability to recycle. It was finished by centre Stuart Abbott and van Gisbergen landed the conversion and a further penalty to give Wasps a 13-6 lead as Toulouse's purple patch started.
Van Gisbergen was on hand again three minutes into the second half, perfectly placed in support of Alex King's long break down the left to beat the final defender then make the touch down just ahead of three defenders, adding the conversion to give Wasps a 20-11 lead.
Toulouse continued to press and had the opportunity to win the match when Lawrence Dallaglio was sin-binned. Replacement Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked the resulting penalty, but King's astute kicking and Wasps´ magnificent defence denied Toulouse any further reward from their 10 minutes against depleted opposition.
They did manage two penalties from continued pressure in the final 10 minutes and might have been favourites for a third Heineken win had the game gone to extra time. But then came Howley's inspired opportunism, Poitrenaud's fatal homage to the memory of Percy Bush, and yet another trophy for Wasps.
Wasps´ victory also means Gloucester qualify for next year's Heineken Cup. Gloucester's place in next week's Zurich wildcard playoff against Leicester for the final Heineken place now goes to Sale.