By Simon Austin
BBC Sport at Twickenham |
Because, standing there in the shadow of the winners' podium, with his arms folded and eyes fixed on the ground, was Martin Johnson.
It was supposed to be his day, a triumphant end to the glorious career of England's World Cup-winning captain at English rugby's HQ.
But instead it was his long-time England comrade Lawrence Dallaglio parading the huge Premiership trophy around, while Johnson headed for the changing rooms.
There, for the last time, he joined an understandably subdued bunch of Leicester players.
"Martin didn't make a speech," Leicester fly-half Andy Goode told BBC Sport.
"The rest of the guys said a few words about what a pleasure it's been to play with 'Johnno', and 'Backy' (Neil Back), over the years."
Johnson had approached the 500th first-class match of his career insisting it was about more than just him.
"I can't wander round Twickenham going, 'It's my last time,' because I'll be made to look stupid," he said.
But no-one else seemed to have listened.
When the Leicester players walked into Twickenham an hour-and-a-half before kick-off, a crowd of several hundred people were gathered to greet them.
The huge roar that announced Johnson's arrival told you why so many were there.
His distinctive face was on the front of all the tickets. When he went near the fans in his warm-up there were massive cheers.
Every photographer's lens was trained on Johnson as he led Leicester out for the start of the game.
And the Tigers skipper started proceedings in characteristic style.
He made the first tackle of the game, felling Ayoola Erinle after the Wasps centre collected Andy Goode's kick-off.
And he was grappling with his old England back-row colleague Lawrence Dallaglio off the ball after just two minutes.
But this wasn't to be his day.
 Dallaglio came out on top in his duel with Johnson |
He took out his early frustration by cuffing former England colleague Matt Dawson round the head, and later almost took Dawson's head off with a blatantly high tackle.
He wasn't the only Tiger to show his claws, Back swinging a fist at Joe Worsley, who was also taken out by Martin Corry, while Graham Rowntree was penalised for punching.
Defeat signalled Leicester's third trophy-less season in a row - a worrying trend for England's biggest club and its supporters.
Those followers must now get used to life without their talismanic captain, as well as Back and coach John Wells.
"Losing Johnno's leadership is huge," Goode admitted. "Not only that, he's the best player in his position in the world and has been for a number of seasons.
"Johnno and Backy have been a massive influence at the club - and on my career as well.
"We have to move on, it's a fact of life. We have to get together and regroup."
That is likely to be easier said than done.
MMIX
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Losing Johnno's leadership is huge
