FULL-BACK Ben Howard insists Worcester Warriors have learned a lot from their pre-season defensive lapses.

The 22-year-old says Warriors were taught a harsh lesson when they were torn apart by Wasps in a 52-30 warm-up defeat.

Warriors have won two of their opening four Aviva Premiership matches and got their European Challenge Cup campaign off to a promising start with Saturday’s 19-3 success against La Rochelle.

They travel to Parma on Saturday for face Italian pro-12 outfit Zebre, beaten 23-10 at Gloucester, in their second group match.

Howard provided the bright spots and scored a late try in Worcester’s triumph in an error-strewn and dour match against La Rochelle.

He said: “We can’t be throwing the ball around under pressure in our own half.

“We did that in a couple of pre-season games, Wasps, particularly.

“They tore us apart from our mistakes and we are thinking about the bigger picture and trying to play the game in the right areas – especially in wet conditions.

“It’s paying dividends – we are getting wins and staying competitive in matches.

“The game we wanted to play was to move the ball around.

“We felt the few times we put together a few phases we caused them a lot of problems and that’s where the frustration ultimately comes from.

“At least two or three times had one more pass gone to hand we would have scored a try."

Fly-half Ryan Lamb kicked four penalties and a conversion against La Rochelle but the match was a dour, stop-start affair dominated by the referee’s whistle.

Howard said: “It was nice to get a try – it probably should have been two or three.

“I appreciate everyone who came out to watch because it probably wasn’t the best game to watch but hopefully there will be better ones along the way.”

Zebre were formed in the 2012/13 season and are 10th in the Pro-12 competition with two wins and five defeats from seven matches.

The Italian outfit trailed 23-0 at half-time in Saturday’s game at Gloucester before hitting back in the second-half with a penalty try, and a conversion and penalty from Edoardo Padovani.

Howard said: “It’s always nice to get a flight and get away somewhere and to see a new place.

“It’s another opportunity for our group of players to put their hands up and put in a performance.”