LEICESTER cruised into the European Cup final with so much turbo-charged power in all phases that it was hard to believe the holders, Toulouse, have dominated French rugby for the past three seasons.

A five-try victory in a major competition would be pleasing at the best of times - what made the Tigers' splendidly-balanced performance doubly satisfying was the way they kept turning the screw for 80 minutes on a side studded with international players. Dean Richards, the Leicester captain, denied that victory had been "comprehensive", saying Toulouse continued to battle with great tenacity until the end.

Yet the scoreline offered indisputable evidence that the Tigers were always calling the shots that mattered - at 27 minutes they led 17-3; at 48 minutes it was 25-6; and at 71 minutes they were out of sight at 37-6. Leicester being Leicester, both Richards and the director of rugby, Bob Dwyer, preferred to talk down their historic achievement, reminding everyone that the hardest task would be winning the final at Cardiff Arms Park on January 25th.

"It will all have been a waste of time if we don't lift the trophy", said Richards. "At the moment, it's very pleasant to be in the changing room with the boys after this win but we won't know how good we are until we've played in the final."

Dwyer did acknowledge the Leicester performance was "light years away from where we were at the start of the season", adding that his players believed they still had plenty of room for improvement.

"It's fantastic to make the final and it doesn't bother me that we'll have to play it in Cardiff," he said. "We're ready to play anybody anywhere and, as long as there's enough buses, we won't be conceding crowd support."

Leicester will be extremely fortunate if they receive even £40,000 in prize money from a competition that has been badly under-funded on several fronts. No doubt the sponsors, Heineken, are delighted that the worst case commercial scenario of a final involving two French clubs has been avoided but it is now too late to improve the TV package for the competition which was sold to the BBC for under £500,000.

"When the prize money for next season is renegotiated, I hope they make it retrospective," joked Dwyer. "Certainly there must be a substantial sum of money made available to the finalists. Heineken must be very pleased at the way things have turned out for them, with Leicester going so far. We must get on and play rugby and look for the good things in the competition."

Two of those "good things" for Leicester were the open side, Neil Back, and the centre, Will Greenwood, whose joint influence on the pace and pattern of play kept Toulouse under continuous pressure.

The debate about Back's supposed lack of weight and inches will probably rage on into the Millennium but the French will testify to his uncanny ability to get. to the breakdown first and keep recycling the ball at speed in all parts of the field.

Greenwood, who Harlequins carelessly allowed to slip away last summer, has been the midfield revelation of the season, taking on greater responsibility in tormenting opposition defences, forcing the issue with straight running, and bringing team mates into the action with impressive ball transfers.

However, Dwyer feels that Greenwood - and other uncapped Tigers - "should not even think about playing for England before they have become as good as they possibly can be" at club level.

Playing at pace has been the key to Leicester's transformation in recent weeks so it was fitting that the right wing, Steve Hackney, scored the opening try with a thrilling 65 metres sprint that began on the right touchline and finished near the posts.

Hackney was the beneficiary of a wild mispass by Castaignede which went to ground between Ougier and the wing Berty who never had a hope of catching the Leicester man.

In the 18th minute, Back scored at the posts courtesy of a slick overhead pass by Greenwood and from then on the Tigers never looked back, draining the strength of the Toulouse pack at the set pieces and driving forward in the loose.

A possible try by Dispagne was not awarded by referee Jim Fleming, who was unsighted, and Cazalbou was held up on the line minutes later - thereafter French organisation steadily disintegrated.

The Tigers consolidated their 20-6 half-time lead with further tries by Garforth, who tore the ball from a maul before crashing over, and Healey, who scored at the right flag after an excellent build-up by Greenwood. Toulouse conceded a penalty try after collapsing a maul.

It may not have been an easy win for the Tigers but, so practised was their control, that they made it look that way.