Summary

  • FT: Wasps 21-20 Leicester Tigers

  • Kurtley Beale with early try for hosts, Josh Bassett late on sealed win

  • Peter Betham and Telusa Veainu tries for Leicester

  • FT: Exeter Chiefs 18-16 Saracens

  • Simmonds wins it for Exeter in last-minute after Nowell try

  1. 'We're not underestimating the task'published at 17:05 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Wasps v Leicester (17:15 BST)

    Dai YoungImage source, Getty Images

    Wasps director of rugby Dai Young told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:

    "This is what you play rugby for and graft through a nine-month season - to give yourselves the chance of getting to Twickenham.

    "We're not underestimating the task. Leicester will certainly look forward to coming to the Ricoh and upsetting the party, but it's up to us to make sure we play to the best of our ability.

    "I believe if we play like we have for 90% of this season I think we'll get the result, but we're not taking anything for granted."

  2. Postpublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Wasps v Leicester (17:15 BST)

    I just mentioned experience and grit in the Leicester side. I'm sure Dan Cole's name appears under those words in the dictionary.

    The 30-year-old England prop will be in the middle of everything at the Ricoh Arena.

    Dan Cole appearancesImage source, Getty Images
  3. The best in the businesspublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Wasps v Leicester (17:15 BST)

    Manu TuilagiImage source, Getty Images

    13 straight play-offs, 10 Premiership titles, experience and grit throughout the squad - no-one is writing Leicester Tigers off. You'd be silly to.

    It was a difficult season off the field at times, with director of rugby Richard Cockerill sacked in January after almost eight years in charge.

    But under Matt O'Connor, Leicester rallied and enjoyed a fine second half of the season to finish fourth.

    Tigers have lost three straight semi-finals and it doesn't get any easier today at the Ricoh, but they've been there, done it before and bought the t-shirt. It should be a cracker!

  4. Postpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Wasps v Leicester (17:15 BST)

    Christian WadeImage source, Getty Images

    The lightning Wasps winger crossed the whitewash 17 times this campaign.

    It equaled Dominic Chapman's record number in a season for Richmond in 1997-98.

    The 26-year-old only has one England cap under his belt so far, but I'm sure Eddie Jones will be watching events closely at the Ricoh.

  5. Can Wasps finish the job?published at 16:56 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Wasps v Leicester (17:15 BST)

    Wasps v SaracensImage source, Getty Images

    Wasps may have topped the Premiership table, but it will matter little if they don't win their next two games.

    Dai Young's men have been outstanding for most of the season, averaging more than 31 points each league game.

    Today they come up against a Leicester side who know what it takes in the play-offs - they've been here before - plenty of times.

    But Tigers will have to find a way of stopping this man...

  6. Team newspublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Wasps v Leicester (17:15 BST)

    Captain Tom Youngs will make his 100th start for Leicester.

    Mike Fitzgerald returns to the pack and Telusa Veainu starts at full-back, but JP Pietersen, Maxime Mermoz and Tom Brady miss out with injury.

    Tigers have forward Ed Slater in their squad after his recovery from injury.

    Wasps starting XVImage source, .

    Replacements: McGuigan, Bateman, Balmain, Slater, M. Williams, Harrison, Roberts, Smith.

  7. Team newspublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Wasps v Leicester (17:15 BST)

    Ashley Johnson and Phil Swainston start in the front row as Wasps make two changes from their 35-15 victory over Saracens on the final day of the regular season.

    James Gaskell, Tommy Taylor and Marty Moore return from injury to make the bench but Kearnan Myall (knee) is out.

    As well as Myall, Wasps' injury list also includes Jake Cooper-Woolley (toe), Sam Jones (leg), Kyle Eastmond (Achilles), Carlo Festuccia (hand), Alex Lundberg (ankle) and George Edgson (knee).

    Wasps XVImage source, .

    Replacements: Taylor, McIntyre, Moore, Gaskell, Thompson, Robson, Leiua, Bassett.

  8. Postpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Wasps v Leicester (17:15 BST)

    Thanks Adam. Go and have a lie down son!

    Let's start with the team news from the Ricoh Arena...

  9. Postpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    And with that, we move on from Devon to Coventry for part two of this Premiership semi-final Saturday.

    If the second game between Wasps and Leicester is anywhere near as exciting as the first, we're in for a treat.

    Gary Smee will be your man to take you through the action at the Ricoh Arena....

  10. FT: Exeter 18-16 Saracenspublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    What a game and what a moment for Exeter!

    If you missed it and how it all unfolded, here's Brent Pilnick's report from Sandy Park on a thrilling finale in the South West...

    Exeter 18-16 Saracens

    Saracens' hopes of consecutive domestic and European titles are dashed as Exeter score a late try in the Premiership semi-final.

    Read More
  11. Postpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    FT: Exeter 18-16 Saracens

    So, two finals in two days for the city of Exeter next weekend.

    First up, the Chiefs will face either Wasps or Leicester in the Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday and Exeter City play Blackpool in the League Two play-off final at Wembely the following day.

    Trains, planes and automobiles will be heading up from the south west for sure...

    Exeter celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Tweet via #bbcrugby

    David McNaught: Exeter's London takeover complete!

    Andrew Priestley: Saracens, this is how it feels to be on the wrong side of a result in a big game. You haven't been in this situation much lately.

  13. Postpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Well, I can tell you Gareth - it was Sam Simmonds the man who got the all-important score there.

    Incredible stuff...

  14. Postpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    FT: Exeter 18-16 Saracens

    Exeter fly-half Gareth Steenson on BT Sport:

    "It was enjoyable to be a part of despite the tension at the end. The atmosphere here is incredible and the crowd were buzzing as soon as we got here.

    "I'm sure it was special to watch on TV and we're delighted to have made it.

    "We were knocking on the door in the first half, but didn't get the opportunities, but we kept going until the end and thankfully got over the line.

    "I'm not even sure who it was who got that winning try!"

    Exeter celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    FT: Exeter 18-16 Saracens

    Man of the match Exeter back row Thomas Waldrom on BT Sport:

    "We left it quite late, but we'll take it and we'll move on to next week.

    "What a crowd! They really made their voices heard and made such a difference for us.

    "We stuck to our game this year, we started slow, but we've found our rhythm and what's worked for us and this is the reward now."

  16. Postpublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    FT: Exeter 18-16 Saracens

    My word! What a climax and what a story for Exeter Chiefs...

  17. Full-timepublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Exeter 18-16 Saracens

    Gareth Steenson missed the conversion, but nobody of an Exeter persuasion cares as that's it!

    They've beaten the defending champions and the back-to-back champions of Europe and they are going to the Premiership final once again!

    Chiefs fansImage source, Rex Features
  18. try

    Try (Simmonds, missed con Steenson)published at 80 mins

    Exeter 18-16 Saracens

    And Exeter have done it!!!!

    They got the attacking line-out spot on. The drive came from 10 metres out and Sam Simmonds was the man under the rolling maul to send the Devon faithful into raptures.

    Sam Simmonds tryImage source, Getty Images
  19. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Exeter 13-16 Saracens

    Exeter get a penalty form that and Henry Slade puts in a huge range-finder kick to only seven metres out from Saracens' line....

    Well.....

  20. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Exeter 13-16 Saracens

    Time for a spectacular drop goal to draw us level and take this one into extra time?

    If so, Exeter have got some work to do with a put in at the scrum on their own 10-metre line.