WASPS skipper Lawrence Dallaglio has blasted critics of the play-off system.

The top two clash today in a mouthwatering end-of-season finale and Dallaglio can't believe anyone wouldn't want to see it happen.

He roared: "All the people that talk about the play-offs it's nonsense. It's a great advert for the domestic game."

Dallaglio reckons that English rugby would suffer from abolishing the play-off system.

He said: "If you are going to have international games on the same day as league matches, you have to have a play-off system.

"We give seven players to the England squad. You can't have a system where the top team finishes top if you're going to have five or six international matches played at the same time throughout the season. What clubs will do is sign overseas players.

"We would approach the season differently. Perhaps a lot of our younger players like Tom Rees wouldn't have had those opportunities in a situation where there's a straight race."

And Wasps director of rugby Warren Gatland reckons the play-offs are good for the future of the game.

He said: "It's about looking at the bigger picture. It's about the development of players. We're a predominantly English-based team and it's important we develop some of the younger players for the club and for the future of English rugby.

"If it was first past the post, our approach would be different to what it is.

"We've worked hard in developing our youngsters who've come through, players like Tom Rees, John Hart and Martin Purdy.

"We played them in a lot of games whereas other teams might not normally play these young players.

"It's important that we develop them and important we think about the future."