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This weekend marks the final of the Aviva Premiership, which will see Harlequins and Leicester Tigers square-off at Twickenham.
Harlequins are heading into their first Premiership final following an impressive season, which has seen them sit at the top of the table since September, whereas Leicester will be contesting their eighth successive final, and will be riding high following a strong end to the campaign.
We grabbed ESPN Rugby Analyst Nick Mullins, to hear his thoughts on the biggest game of the season.
It has been a fantastic year so far. Are the best two teams in the final?
With the greatest respect to my friends at Northampton and Saracens, I think even supporters of those two clubs will say that the final should be about the best two teams of the season scrapping it out and I think we have the two teams, who haven't just been the best two teams, but the two teams who have entertained us more than any other team in the Premiership this season as well.
From the point where Leicester won that incredible game at the Stoop in the penultimate round of games, we'd all been hoping that this would be the final and we've got that final.
Considering Leicester's fantastic run at the end of the campaign, do they have more momentum heading into the Premiership final?
I think it's an issue for Harlequins. One of the things that Quins have had to deal with since September is that they've been at the top and week in, week out and there have been people waiting for them to fall. It's an enormous credit to the team and the fantastic coaching staff that they never did. I think that expectation and the desire to prove people wrong is exhausting though.
Both teams have had a small break, Quins have had some time in the sunshine in Abu Dhabi to recharge the batteries, but the impression that you were forced to take watching the semi-finals was that all the momentum and energy was with Leicester and Quins were perhaps a little fortunate to make the final.
Leicester Tigers will be contesting their eighth successive Premiership Final, where as this will be Quins' first. Is there a fear that nerves may hit Harlequins?
Quins have never played together as a club in such as game as this. They've had big games at Twickenham over Christmas and won the Amlin cup last season, but they'll have experienced nothing like this on Saturday and that might have a debilitating effect.
However, looking around the team, they are a group of guys who don't lack match experience. Chris Robshaw knows how to lead a team, he's been doing it with England and he'll be coming out of the same dressing room that he led England out of during the Six Nations.
Nick Evans has been around the block, although he's never won a significant trophy, but he doesn't strike me as the type who will be nervous. They are a young and ambitious side and they know that they are on the brink of doing something that their club has never done and I think that can be an enormously powerful motivation for them.
Are you expecting it to be quite an open game?
I think a lot of it will depend on the weather. The forecast is for a hot day. We're at the end of a long season, I think the elements might play a part in the pace of the game.
But we shouldn't get lost in the idea that both sides try to play like rugby's answer to the Harlem Globetrotters. They both know how to run the ball around and they've got strike runners who can score from anywhere.
I think this season Quins have created an edge to areas that they weren't renowned for in the past. I think they wanted to offer more than just an ability to run the ball around with pace, and the pack have really impressed me this season. They are a team that can scrum with the best of them and have a line-out that can compete and can maul the ball. It seems like they can win the game in different ways.
Who are your key men for the fixture?
There are two players that have to have good games if their teams are to win. The most important player for Quins will be Joe Marler, because he will be trying to look after Cole and Castrogiovanni.
I think if you can get parity with Leicester in the scrum, then you are giving yourself a real opportunity. It will be Marler closely followed by James Johnston on the other side, that have got to have the kind of games they have put in all season. They've got to be big and strong and stand firm. If Leicester get dominant in the scrum then it could be good night Harlequins.
If the whispers are to be believed, then the key guy for Leicester could be George Ford, as I suspect that Toby Flood will not be fit enough. If Ford plays again like he did against Saints, then Quins will have their hands full. As much as both sides are full of enormously experienced players, I have a feeling that the two most important players will be two of the youngest players on the pitch.
...And finally, who will win?
I think Leicester. You look at all the key indicators such as recent form, experience of dealing with Premiership final day, knowing how to cross the finish line no matter how inelegant it may be, all of those indicators point to Leicester. However, I will say that if Harlequins did win, it would be one of the most refreshing results of the season and in many seasons gone by.
ESPN has exclusively live coverage of the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final between Quins and Leicester, on-air at 2pm on May 26. For the first time in the match’s history, ESPN will also provide 3D television coverage of the Final.
