BEING axed for the first Aviva Premiership game of the season at Twickenham has “fuelled” the “fire” for Worcester Warriors’ experienced lock Donncha O’Callaghan.

O’Callaghan, who won 94 Test caps for Ireland, revealed he was “kicking and screaming” after failing to make Carl Hogg’s squad for Warriors’ opening-day tussle against Saracens.

But the 37-year-old says he would “walk on broken glass” for Hogg and is determined to show the head coach his value on the pitch.

“I was disappointed not to be picked for the first game - you can ask Hoggy (Carl Hogg) and I was pretty upset.

“I won’t shy away from things and I understand the development processes but there’s still the inner competition in me and I want to get out every week and play.

“I think it brought out the kicking and screaming in me but that’s my personality and there’s nothing I can do about it. I want to play and contribute to the team.”

Cork-born O’Callaghan won the Six Nations Grand Slam with Ireland in 2009 and clinched two Heineken Cup titles and two Magners League titles with his former club Munster.

He also captained the British and Irish Lions in South Africa in 2009 and featured in three consecutive World Cups for his nation.

But he said: “I know that for Hoggy’s first squad I wasn’t in it.

“I have massive respect for him and would walk on broken glass for the guy.

“I see the amount of work he puts in and I can see it means everything to him and I want to reflect that when I go out and play.

“But part of me wants to show him in no uncertain terms and let him know that I want to play every week and I think he knows that.

“I understand he needs to do his job but he left me out of that first game of the season and I think it has fuelled my fire."

O’Callaghan regained his place from Tevita Cavubati in Worcester’s starting line-up for the M5 derby against Gloucester.

O’Callaghan has resumed his second-row partnership with Darren Barry for the last four matches.

With Cavubati sidelined with a broken foot, Christian Scotland-Williamson is on the bench for tomorrow's trip to Leicester Tigers (3pm).

O’Callaghan said: “I haven’t proved anything yet - we will have proved a point when we’ve stayed up and I have played a lot more games.

“I want to go well to reflect the work Hoggy does with me in the week.

“At the age of 37, I am still getting a high level of coaching from him.

“He’s critiquing and helping me with my game and I love that he wants me to get better and improve when a lot of other people might wash their hands with me and say they couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks.”