SUPERSTAR full-back Chris Latham is in no doubt that if the Worcester Warriors team of last year had been faced with Saturday’s Sale Sharks onslaught, they would have rolled over and lost.

Mike Ruddock’s battlers showed true grit in a memorable second-half rearguard to deny the Edgeley Park outfit and hang on for a 24-18 victory, despite spending large periods camped on their own try line.

The former Australia international, who won 78 caps for the Wallabies, insists Warriors were able to call upon a new-found steel which they didn’t possess last term.

The former Queensland Reds ace, who turned 34 earlier this month, said: “It is not a case of Worcester ‘might’ have lost that game last year, we would have thrown a game like that away.

“We were throwing games away a lot last season, but this year, in games we should win, we are holding on.

“Last year, we were disappointed when we threw games away by so much, now we are disappointed that we are not winning by more.

“Those are two big differences from last term and it is a healthy place for us to be.”

The Aussie added: “We set goals for our home games and making Sixways a very hard place to come and play.

“Getting home wins is doing a job for us, but we’ve still got a lot to work on. It would have been nice to have run away with the game against Sale, especially after the way we started the second-half.

“But, you can’t fault our commitment and our enthusiasm to get in there and do the hard yards. However, we have to keep learning and keep evolving.

“Against Wasps, it was probably a little less physical, but we felt a lot worse because we had lost the game. We let ourselves down as individuals and the team let itself down too, which tends to hurt more.

“After a win, though, we come back into training and all the boys are a lot more positive and bouyant.

“Phsycologically that does help.”

Latham also praised the phenomenal vocal support that the Sixways faithful have been generating at home matches.

He said: “The support at Worcester is unbelievable.

“When I arrived here, the first game I went to was the friendly at Ulster and I was blown away by the number of fans that were there for us.

“Then, to see the support that we get, and how the fans have stuck with us, it is fantastic. They are really coming out this year and supporting us.

“You read the comments of the fans and they really want to get behind us and be loud. You have to say that if there is one message from a players’ point of view, it is that their support helps immensely and it is fantastic when they get behind us.

“I thought the atmosphere for the Leeds and Sale games was fantastic — it is every week as they are a great supporting group — and we really appreciate it.”