Dallaglio delighted by Wasps' fighting spirit
PA Sport
April 8, 2007

Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio hailed his side's "will to win" after they overturned a 15-point deficit to maintain their Guinness Premiership championship play-off hopes with a stunning last-gasp 27-26 home victory over Saracens.

``It was fantastic, edge of the seat stuff and it keeps the dream alive,'' proclaimed Dallaglio.

He added: ``Saracens are the form team in the Premiership and we really went at them. They got in front but our will to win was outstanding.''

Dallaglio singled out scrum Eoin Reddan, who followed up his two tries in last week's 35-13 Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Leinster with the late pair which sank Saracens today.

He described Reddan as ``outstanding'' and praised late replacement Mark Van Gisbergen for keeping his cool to land the match-winning injury-time conversion.

``Reddan has got to be putting a lot of serious pressure on Peter Stringer and co for the Irish squad,'' said Dallaglio.

``I don't think he will score a better try than the one that won the game - he dummied the whole crowd as well.

``Mark Van Gisbergen, who came off the bench, could have been a bit frustrated but he was the coolest guy in the stadium.''

Wasps, now two points behind fourth-placed Saracens with two matches to play, are at home to bottom club Northampton next week before visiting leaders Leicester in their final game.

``Northampton are going to be scrapping and throwing the kitchen sink. Every game is a cup final now,'' added Dallaglio.

Ian McGeechan, the Wasps director of rugby, said: ``All we can do is keep winning. We are in the mix.''

His Saracens opposite number Alan Gaffney lamented: ``It's soul-destroying. We played some good rugby and had control of the game but we lost control by making mistakes.''

Gaffney said he never doubted Van Gisbergen would land the crucial kick.

``I've seen him before and I knew it was going over,'' he said.

Gaffney refused to apportion blame for his side's capitulation.

``Four minutes to go we had a lineout in their 22 and we shouldn't have let them come back,'' he said.

But Sarries chief is still backing his team to finish in a play-off spot.

``Winning wouldn't have sealed our place but it would have put us eight points clear of Wasps and we'd have been pretty happy,'' he said.

``We can be harsh on ourselves but tomorrow we have to come in with chins up and move on.''

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