THE “quality” and “clinical nature” of Worcester Warriors’ kicking game must be improved, demands director of rugby Dean Ryan.

Warriors’ defensive frailties and lack of squad depth were exposed in their last four Aviva Premiership matches with comprehensive defeats against the top four sides.

And Warriors’ loose kicking played into the hands of livewire full-back Alex Goode who was outstanding in Saracens’ 43-19 triumph at Sixways last Saturday.

Warriors conceded 597 points during the campaign, just 23 fewer than relegated London Irish, including a total of 178 from their final four matches.

But Ryan’s men fared well in attack, racking up 420 points – 63 more than second-bottom Newcastle Falcons, 92 more than Irish, 15 fewer than Bath and nine shy of Gloucester.

Cooper Vuna topped Worcester’s Premiership try-scoring charts with nine touchdowns, two more than fellow wing Bryce Heem.

Ryan said: “I don’t think we’ve ever been concerned about what we do in attack.

“We struggle with power and the clinical nature of our kicking game.

“We aren’t doing anything different than other teams, it’s just the quality of what we are doing.

“I am pleased we showcased some of the things we can do against Saracens but it was not a surprise we got shown the distance between the two clubs.

“That’s the challenge we take on every year.

“That’s the challenge of growing the club. We can’t close the gap in 12 months.”

Warriors finished 10th in their first season back in the top tier of English rugby but were beaten home and away by the powerhouses of Saracens, Exeter Chiefs, Wasps and Leicester Tigers.

Northampton Saints, in fifth, were the highest-placed team Warriors toppled during the campaign.

A last-gasp drop goal from Tom Heathcote gave Warriors a dramatic 13-12 win at Sixways on the Premiership’s opening night on October 16.

Before their comprehensive final-day defeat to Saracens, Warriors had lost their previous three matches to Exeter Chiefs (50-12), Wasps (54-35) and Leicester Tigers (31-17).

“If we are honest those games have gone very quickly,” admitted Ryan.

“I am not sure we’ve been in games when we could have won.

“I think we have shown we are a huge threat but we have to develop around the edges and that is the physical nature of being able to stay in contests.”