WORCESTER Warriors fly-half Sam Olver believes his side can still qualify for the knockout stages of the European Challenge Cup despite Friday night’s 27-20 defeat in Oyonnax.

Warriors did manage to salvage a late losing bonus point in France but the loss leaves them with plenty of work to do in January if they are to make it to the quarter-finals of the competition.

But Olver insists the club are more than capable of getting through for the first time since the 2008/09 season.

He said: “We can definitely still make it. We’ve certainly got a chance and the boys are pretty positive especially after the second-half showing against Oyonnax.

“It’s going to be very tight in January but we know we’ll have to pick up some results.”

Warriors fought back from 20-3 down on Friday but a first-half yellow card proved to be the difference as they conceded 14 points while down to 14 men.

And Olver admitted: “The yellow card made a difference. It would have been a five-metre line-out for us but instead it was a penalty to them and a yellow for Joe (Taufete’e) and in that 10-minute period we lost 14 points.

“It wasn’t the reason we lost though, we had far too many mistakes in the first period and they capitalised on them.

“It was disappointing. It was one of those games where we were in it right towards the end and one we wanted to come away with a win from.

“Gary (Gold, director of rugby) told us at the break that we were still in the contest and that we still needed to believe and we all did think we could still go out there and win it. We went out there and showed that.

“Other than their one try in the second half we were right up there so it was bitterly disappointing not to win.”

Despite the freezing, snowy conditions on the night, Olver enjoyed a fine evening as he backed up his 15 points at Sixways the previous weekend with another 15 in France as he slotted 10 from the tee alongside a well-taken try.

And he admitted it was nice to get back on form. He continued: “The weather was tough at times but when you’re in the action and touching the ball a lot you don’t get as cold as you might think.

“I’m pretty pleased with my recent performances. I went through a patch where I was struggling to find form but everyone gets that in rugby so it’s nice to get away from that and to play some good rugby now so I’m enjoying it out on the pitch again.

“As for my try, I was looking to throw it over the top but a hole opened up for me so I threw a dummy, saw the gap and took it.”

Warriors’ next outing is an all-important Aviva Premiership battle with London Irish on Friday (7.45pm) and Olver revealed that the squad are pumped up for the clash.

“It’s a massive game, it’s almost the defining game of this half of the season,” said Olver.

“The boys are excited for it and there’s a buzz around the camp and if selected I can’t wait to be involved in it.”