IT WAS a “tactical decision” to haul off replacement fly-half Sam Olver just 40 minutes after coming on, insists Worcester Warriors boss Gary Gold.

Olver was called upon on 13 minutes when Tom Heathcote suffered a bang to the head in Warriors’ 41-10 loss to Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership on Friday.

Soon after coming off the bench the 22-year-old, who arrived from Northampton Saints this summer, levelled the scores with a penalty kick from near the half-way line.

But as Worcester came under attack he struggled to relieve pressure with his kicking and was replaced by Jamie Shillcock on 53 minutes.

Gold leapt to the defence of Olver, describing him as a “great young prospect”.

But he insisted the switch was made to give Shillcock, who had a spell at stand-off last season, a chance to showcase his skills in the number 10 position.

“Sam wasn’t injured, but he did go on really early in the game after Tom’s head knock,” Gold said.

“We just wanted to have a look tactically at Shilly as a 10.

“He is a left footer, kicks the ball a long way and after that first 10 or 15 minutes when we attacked reasonably well we started to get caught and camped in our own half.

“So we thought with his left foot he might be able to give us some territory.

“It was a tactical decision.

“Sam is a great young prospect and we’re really excited about the potential he has got, but he went on really early and we made the change.”