'I actually like the fact Lawrence speaks the way that he does'

Former Scotland second row Jim Hamilton has backed Lawrence Dallaglio for his much-criticised show of support for the financial troubled Wasps, believing it is a positive for someone to have an opinion in an era where social media often quickly shuts down people who have something to say.

BT Sport pundit Dallaglio was speaking over the weekend on TV about the predicament that the administration-worried Wasps find themselves in, insisting that the situation at the Coventry-based Gallagher Premiership club was different to what had happened at the automatically relegated Worcester who were suspended from this season’s top-flight after playing just three matches.

Ex-England No8 Dallaglio was a one-club man at Wasps throughout his stellar playing career and he is currently a director, but his comments on their financial troubles angered numerous viewers who suggested he was treating his club differently from the problems that left Worcester insolvent.

Andy Goode, a former England colleague, could see why the critics were so fired up by what Dallaglio had to say on TV but Hamilton, who co-hosts The Rugby Pod with Goode, has come out in support of the former England forward.

“I actually like the fact that Lawrence speaks the way that he does,” said Hamilton. “There is nothing wrong (with that) at all and it seems to be a problem in this day and age if you are passionate about something or you like something whether or not it is left or right, red or blue, whatever, you can’t have an opinion. So I like the fact that Lawrence is like that, he is a Wasps man through and through.”

Plenty of twists and turns to discuss this week with controversial comments in the media, away wins and red cards PLUS we’re joined by Springbok and Stormers Battering Ram, Evan Roos.??

Listen now on Spotify ? https://t.co/4hrX975FQ5 pic.twitter.com/aGC7tGhkJv

— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) October 11, 2022

Earlier, Goode had explained why Dallaglio’s Wasps comments hadn’t been universally liked. “It’s a delicate situation and a few of Lawrence’s words were perhaps taken in a way that was considered a little insensitive to Worcester. Lawrence is going to bat for Wasps and the facts of the matter around Wasps. What Lawrence is trying to say is there are five businesses overall involved with Wasps, the stadium, the rugby club and a few other parts to that where it is all about getting people into the stadium as a business for various different events, partly rugby which is completely separate.

“What Lawrence is saying is that around the pandemic a lot of the other parts of the business haven’t been functioning which is why they are overall now looking at a position of going into administration. So he was trying to say it was affected by the pandemic whereas he was insinuating that Worcester’s situation and their demise is down to shocking mismanagement by the two owners.

“Obviously, covid played its part in that (as well), but what he is trying to do is fight for his club. I completely understand it from Lawrence’s point of view, but I completely understand it from the fans’ point of view so effectively people are thinking he is trying to insinuate that Worcester is a completely different situation, that they are relegated and don’t really matter in the Premiership but because of Wasps’ history and the brand and all this stuff, it should matter more.

“I disagree with Lawrence in that sense. I played for both clubs and hope that both clubs can find a solution where we can see them moving forward with their P shares and playing in the Premiership. If one or both of them get relegated you would hope that one or both can come back up.

“There is so much water to go under the bridge until that point but for me, it was seen as insensitive by Worcester fans and other fans around the league that are just thinking he has got this (BT Sport) platform just to protect Wasps and to push Wasps’ side of the story.

“I don’t think he necessarily meant to disrespect Worcester, he was just fighting as much as he could for Wasps in getting his opinion across on what is known as a big platform. We shall see where it comes to and hopefully, there is a fix because there are a few buyers out there… but time is of the essence.

“This week is pivotal in terms of administration, whether the club goes into administration and what happens next because it is pretty damning at the club at the minute.”