THE line-out catching prowess of former Munster academy player Darren O’Shea is proving a vital weapon in Worcester Warriors’ at - tacking play.

O’Shea has been one of the stars of Warriors’ season and has set up a succession catch-and-drive scores after taking clean ball in the line-out.

O’Shea scored his maiden try for Warriors in their Greene King IPA Championship triumph at Rother - ham in October.

“I am very happy with the line-out and the team in general,” he said “We have built a strong maul and, hopefully, we can build on it and car - ry it on.”

Warriors’ director of rugby, Dean Ryan, believes the form of O’Shea has been ‘a really big find’ for the club.

Ryan said: “O’Shea has been a real - ly big find in the middle because the quality of the ball you gets dictates the quality of the drive.

“There are component parts which make it up and O’Shea’s progress in the side has been brilliant.

“He had his opportunity due to Dan Sanderson’s injury and O’Shea has come in and caught the line-outs and that has given everyone a lot of con - fidence.”

O’Shea has been part of Ireland’s under 19 and 20 development squads and made his British and Irish Cup debut for Munster ‘A’ in 2013.

Ryan said “There’s no point being a side with pace and width if you haven’t got a drive.

“Our set-piece element is crucial and there has to be a balance be - tween the elements.

“I don’t think we are a set-piece ori - entated side, but I think we have to make sure it’s top quality.

“Our drive is developing and that was an area which we weren’t very good at last year.”

Ryan is also excited about Warri - ors’ options in the backline with the return of Ryan Lamb and Ryan Mills and the form of young centre Max Stelling.

“Lamby is sharp of thought and is a different type of fly-half to Ignacio Mieres and offers a little bit more threat around his pass, but Mieres has been solid with good field posi - tion.

“There are challenges out there for both number 10s to try to expand their game to areas where they are not necessarily used to.

“I am just pleased Lamby’s back and sharp and his goal-kicking was 100 per cent against Bedford.

“Place-kicking was an area where we could not hit a barn door last sea - son.

“If we are going to successful in the Premiership we have to raise our standards and the Championship play-offs is something we have to achieve and get through.