Johnson, ending his 500-game first class career, has never been one to soak up the plaudits. As Brian Moore highlighted in the morning papers, he has built his career on hard work and leading by example.

But even he wouldn’t have expected Leicester to find so long to get out of second gear. They crossed the line just once – when Scott Bemand scurried over on the right – to add to Andy Goode’s three penalties.

The Tigers had blown Wasps away in the first half in their last three games and hadn’t been beaten by them since December 2002. But the reigning champions seized the initiative from the outset by swarming up in defence and allowing Alex King to control the tempo of the game.

Dallaglio was a powerful influence throughout, whether driving forward or linking up play neatly, and Simon Shaw overshadowed all his rivals in the loose before creating the decisive score.

The defensive pressure and Dallaglio’s force in the tackle jarred the ball from Ollie Smith’s grasp and saw Voyce streak away in the fifth minute for the first half’s only try, with Wasps retaining the initiative as Van Gisbergen added the conversion and stroked over four penalties on route to a 19-6 interval lead.

The full-back only missed once – after Neil Back was spotted punching Joe Worsley off the ball – and all Leicester could offer were two Goode penalties. The Tigers more extravagant attacks, most notably when Smith was collared by Paul Sackey on the left, were snuffed out by dynamic defending of the highest order.

Van Gisbergen and Goode traded penalties in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, when Leicester were lucky to stay in the game when Wasps’ best attack ran out of steam five metres out and King could only hit the post with his drop-goal attempt.

When Leicester did press forward, they couldn’t create a decisive opening and it was down to Van Gisbergen to kill the game off with his 69th minute score.

Dawson scuttled into midfield, Shaw stepped inside the cover and then handed off to the full-back who picked the perfect angle to accelerate away and finish with a triumphant dive.

Bemand got over the line for Leicester three minutes from time but Wasps underlined their superiority when Hoadley forced his way over at the death.

Leicester Tigers: Sam Vesty, Geordan Murphy, Ollie Smith, Daryl Gibson, Leon Lloyd, Andy Goode, Harry Ellis, Darren Morris, George Chuter, Julian White, Martin Johnson, Ben Kay, Louis Deacon, Neil Back, Martin Corry.
Replacements: James Buckland, Graham Rowntree, Lewis Moody, Will Johnson, Scott Bemand, Austin Healey, Alesana Tuilagi.

London Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen, Paul Sackey, Ayoola Erinle, Josh Lewsey, Tom Voyce, Alex King, Matt Dawson, Tim Payne, Phil Greening, Will Green, Simon Shaw, Richard Birkett, John Hart, Joe Worsley, Lawrence Dallaglio.
Replacements: Trevor Leota, Craig Dowd, Mark Lock, Martin Purdy, Warren Fury, James Brooks, Rob Hoadley.

Referee: Chris White.