Dallaglio: Wasps war horse

As far as points on the table go, well it counts for absolutely nothing now. This is knock-out rugby and there is a whole different mindset because of that.

Miles Harrison
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WASPS v BATH
Sunday, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 2

GLOUCESTER v LEICESTER
Sunday, 4.30pm, Sky Sports 2

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Four teams remain in the hunt for Guinness Premiership glory as we head into the play-offs.

Gloucester were top of the table after the normal season ended, but they have been in this position before and come away empty handed. Will it be third time lucky for the cherry-and-whites?

So Miles, all credit to these teams for getting to the play-offs, but the hard work starts now doesn't it?

MILES: That is the way of the play-off system and all the clubs have been making that point all week. It has taken them 22 rounds to get here, it has been a hard slog but now the slate has been wiped clean and they have to forget what happened in those 22 games. As far as points on the table, well it counts for absolutely nothing now. This is knock-out rugby and there is a whole different mindset because of that.

Talking about mindsets, Leicester led the way in writing themselves off a week or so ago, yet here they are in the play-offs with a chance to defend their title. What does that say about them?

MILES: Yes, they were writing themselves off. Richard Cockerill came out with those comments. Does that make them a dangerous animal? I guess it does, but on the other hand there is always expectation on Leicester anyway. They are the champions and they are such a big club so regardless if they have sneaked in the back door to the play-offs or whether they stormed in as number one seeds, I don't think it matters.

They are Leicester and they expect to win. I guess the question to ask is what makes them dangerous? Well to borrow a phrase from Ian McGeechan from the 1997 Lions tour to South Africa where he talked about Springboks being wounded. The Tigers have been wounded this season by all kinds of off field rumours and stories and their general play on the field which has ultimately proved to be disappointing and below the standards that they always set themselves. Their reputation has been wounded, and Gloucester will know that.

Leicester have been the only side to beat Gloucester in the Premiership at Kingsholm. Gloucester have been hurt by Leicester this season and last season where they lost to them in the final.

Have Gloucester got the same doggedness that Leicester have?

MILES: They are starting to show it. I think their last two performances against Wasps away and Bath at home have been superb. They are the other two semi-finalists, so if they get through to the final, I think psychologically they will be in a much stronger position than they were last year. It is well documented that they have struggled in the really big games. They have been progressing and going forward, but their problem has been to win those big games. No one at Gloucester is panicking about that and Dean Ryan knows it is all about building blocks. They are getting to that point where they are expected to win those big games; they go into this game as home semi-finalists which is perfect for them. They have two victories over the other semi-finalists which is very good for them. Their performance against Bath last weekend was top-notch. They could not be in finer fettle. Now is the time to deliver.

Leicester are the only side to beat them this season at home in the Premiership. Is that going to matter?

MILES: I think what has happened before does matter to a point. It is what has got Gloucester to this point and has made them mentally ready. The history of preparing a side for a semi-final is important and it is important to underline the fact that Leicester have won at Kingsholm this year. It would only be natural for Gloucester fans to think about the big knock-out game at Kingsholm in the Heineken Cup where things did not go according to plan against Munster. But have things happened since then to make a difference? I think they have and it is whether Gloucester can see it through now.

I know you are not commentating on it Miles, but the other semi-final promises to be a cracker too with Bath travelling to Wasps. Bath have said that against Gloucester they played a lot of rugby but not the right sort of rugby. They said it was a wake-up call for them. Would you agree with that?

MILES: Leaving Kingsholm, Bath would have had a real dent in their ambition and maybe a few personal doubts would have crept in. But waking up the next morning they would have said right, let's get on with this.

Steve Meehan has led brilliantly this year and devised a way of playing that has suited his players and his players have responded brilliantly to it. I don't think there is any need for drastic changes, they have played some fantastic rugby and they need to be true to that.

Bath have also got to take into account that wonderful defensive display from Gloucester. Had Bath been playing any other team last weekend, they would have scored a lot of points in the first half, and that includes against Wasps.

Bath need to keep on playing their fantastic and very entertaining style of rugby. Wasps are playing some wonderful attacking rugby as well, so I think we are in for a fantastic match at Adams Parks. Let's not forget that one of the games of the Premiership was the recent game against Bath and Wasps at the Rec. It was end to end stuff and we could get another one of those this weekend.

Wasps have once again timed their season right haven't they?

MILES: Lawrence Dallaglio said after the Leeds game that this was their biggest achievement. I think it probably is given the situation they were in - they had to keep winning and winning and were hardly allowed a slip-up since they were languishing at the bottom of the table. To get themselves a home semi-final is quite remarkable. They do time it very well and this is almost the ultimate example of perfect timing.

I am not going to ask you to call the games Miles, but can you give an insight into the motivation behind each team?

MILES: You have motivation all across the board this weekend. Part of Wasps' will be for Dallaglio. Inevitably they will want to send Dallaglio off with the ultimate prize in English rugby; it is a major motivation for them.

For Bath, well the players are desperate to be the first team to win some silverware for such a famous club for a decade. That is a strong motivation as well as is to be true to their playing style and win it in what would be a very watchable way.

Then you have Leicester who are not going to give their title up without a fight and also to really do a gesture if you like to the rest of the clubs as if to say write us off at your peril.

Finally you get to possibly, and I say possibly the biggest motivation of them all and that is Gloucester's situation. They have now finished top of the table three times in six years. Is this the year when they actually lift the trophy?

You can throw all those motivations into the pot, I am not sure which is the biggest but I am sure that it is going to be a fantastic finish to the season.