"We are deserved winners."

Of the match no doubt, but of the Premiership? come on surely you "deserve" to be champions if you have been the best team in the league?

"As players, you have got to play to the rules, and everyone knew the rules at the beginning of the season"

No doubt that is true, but it doesn't mean it is right.

"We didn't play our best rugby at the start of the season, we know that. We lost our first match, and at times, we were poor.

Name a time in the season when Gloucester were playing poorly and losing games?

"Gloucester played some outstanding rugby, but they played it by and large at the beginning of the season. That's when they forced the pace and got their lead in the championship, from which they never looked back."

Admittedly we were probably better at the beginning of the season, but even when were playing poorly we were still winning nearly all of our matches. In fact we only lost one match in the second half of the season, and that was against Leeds when we played practically a United team.

"But once you get to Christmas, the championship race takes on a different perspective. You've always got a definite split between the sides at the top and the sides at the bottom. Gloucester extended their lead, and credit to the way they played, but there is no doubt that after our rocky period during the Autumn, I believe we've been the best side in this country"

This bit is the funniest so far. The best side in the country, yet still losing? While we were winning?

"To win 17 out of 19 games in all competitions, you cannot hide the fact that we've fronted-up and won the majority of our matches, particularly the ones that count,"

One of those competitions is the Parker Pen.

"The league was not won by a team after 22 games, otherwise that would have been set out at the beginning of the season. When everyone talked about it, no-one held their hand up and said wouldn't that be a little bit unfair for the team that has won after 22 games."

They didn't? rubbish. People have been annoyed at the new system throughout the season, read the papers and read the message board.

"I'm not going to detract from the fact that Gloucester have played some outstanding rugby. They've been excellent, and they have been more consistent than us this season, but ultimately, on the big occasion, they were unable to deliver."

So we were the better team throughout the league. What's the Powergen Cup for? We need a league we already have enough knockout competitions.

"You can't go out of the traps at 100 miles per hour, and then have nothing left in the tank at the end of the season."

We've been going 100 miles an hour throughout the season, we were good at the end of the season as well. It was only one month ago that we won the Powergen Cup. If it was about having stuff left in the tank, surely the three week break would've benefited us?

"I've been a little bit upset by people blaming us. We are just playing to the rules - we do as we told. If it had been changed in the middle of the season, then you could understand everyone's grievance, but we all bought into it."

Who blamed you?

"Had the roles been reversed, you've got to go out and play like champions, and that is not what Gloucester did. If we had won by six or seven points, and they looked a bit rusty, people could perhaps have had an argument, but there was no case."

Admittedly we didn't, but should we have had to? A lot of rugby is about mental attitude. It must have been very hard to focus and imagine the game as the big spectacle it was supposed to be. Wasps had nothing to lose, Gloucester didn't really have that much to gain other than the material trophy.

Please view it as tongue in cheek, Wasps deserve the trophy it's just the bigger picture which is unfair. If only Larry Dallaglio didn't utter such rubbish!

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS