Austin's engine is essential for Tigers

Leicester fans will be hoping Austin Healey has rediscovered the game-breaking talent that helped win last season's Heineken Cup when they attempt to hold on to European rugby's top prize against Munster tomorrow.

There will be a sell-out 74,000 crowd at Cardiff 's Millennium Stadium and it's the kind of stage Healey loves, although recent performances for Leicester suggest he is running on empty.

Last summer's Lions tour, plus a heavy international and domestic schedule, has left Healey with shoulder, ankle and knee problems that could require surgery.

Healey was the inspiration for Leicester's last-gasp Heineken Cup triumph over Stade Francais in Paris 12 months ago and as our Opta statistics show, the England star is a key man in the Tigers' attacking and defensive games.

His total commitment to the cause is proved by the tackles made and missed - the utility back has made 43 in the Cup to date and missed just four. That is an outstanding performance and puts Munster No 10 Ronan O'Gara to shame as his 62 tackles are offset by 22 missed attempts.

Leicester's defeat by Bristol in last weekend's ludicrous Zurich play-offs will ensure the four-inarow league champions are fired up for Munster, who have beaten Stade Francais and Castres this season on French soil in the cup.

The final also has an added importance for Munster's veteran prop Peter Clohessy, for he retires after the game.

The Heineken Cup Final takes centre stage this weekend, even though England, led by Gloucester's Phil Vickery, meet the Barbarians - Jonah Lomu included - at Twickenham on Sunday.

More than 100,000 fans are due through Twickenham's gates over the next three days, with the Emirates World Sevens Series today (11am) and Saturday.

England need another solid Sevens showing to hold on to fourth place in the Series as that will give them a vital seeding place at this summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

James Simpson-Daniel, 19, who has impressed for Gloucester and the England Sevens team this season, has the dubious honour of trying to stop Lomu.

The New Zealand star heads a Baabaas team that boasts almost 600 caps, while England field just seven players who have tasted Test rugby. This is a non-cap international and with England unable to pick the Leicester players and those from Sale - who meet Pontypridd in Sunday's Parker Pen Shield Final at Oxford - a repeat of last year's Baabaas win is expected.

Vickery, who will also lead England next month in Buenos Aires against Argentina, said: "I'll be telling my squad they have a fantastic opportunity against some of the world's best players."

However, the main attraction of the weekend is in Cardiff tomorrow, starring that man Healey.

Leicester v Munster
3pm, tomorrow, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Live on BBC1

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