FOR Peter Bracken Sunday's game marked a bittersweet finale.

The popular Irish prop had played in Wasps' last four games including the semi-final win over Northampton. But he dropped to the bench after rookie Tom French's surprise inclusion in the team. And the fans' favourite was very emotional after coming on in the second half in his last game before leaving for Bristol.

Bracken said: "I was obviously disappointed not to start the game because I thought I was playing well in the Heineken Cup.

"But Tom French was absolutely fantastic and gave a very mature performance. It was a huge test but he passed with flying colours. He has a great future."

The likeable Irishman admitted bringing home the Heineken Cup was a great memory to take from his two-year spell at Wasps.

"Leaving with a Heineken Cup medal is the ultimate dream and was the reason I joined the club. I wanted to win trophies at a club like Wasps.

"It's a brilliant feeling and I don't think it's sunk in yet. It's my best day at the club but I have had a lot of good personal moments. From a personal point of view scoring the diving try against Harlequins last September was pretty special. I've asked for it to be put on DVD so I can replay it again!"

The 29-year-old offered special praise for the Wasps fans and revealed it would be a wrench to be leaving the club.

"I'm quite emotional because there are a lot of good lads here. Of course I'm sad to be going and it will be a strange feeling leaving here.

"I'm going to miss the supporters and I wish them all the best. They deserve this trophy. I've been on a few curry nights with the Drunken Wasps group and they always used to say unleash the Bracken.' It became a popular phrase and was used a lot by the crowd when I was on the bench.

"The fans have been great and luckily I was able to come on for a final time and unleash the Bracken at Twickenham."

l Ayoola Erinle says he savoured the Heineken Cup victory without mixed emotions.

The Wasps centre leaves for Leicester this summer but insists he was still all Wasp on Sunday.

He said: "I was rooting for them all the way, irrespective of where I'm going. I'm a Wasp. I always have been and the club will always hold a special place in my heart.

"It was pretty weird signing off from the sidelines and if you're not involved you'd be lying if you said you felt the same as if you've played.

"But it's a beautiful way to sign off my career here."

And Erinle can't wait to start winding up his new team-mates.

He said: "This is some ammunition to take to Leicester and at least I've got the bragging rights now. If someone starts giving me a bit too much heat up there, I've got this on the backburner to respond with."