RECORD-BREAKING hooker Joe Taufete’e wants to be the driving force behind making Worcester Warriors’ rolling maul a weapon in the Gallagher Premiership.

The American battering ram has been scoring tries for fun for USA with most of them coming off the back of catch-and-drive moves.

His ability to crash over the try-line from driving lineouts has also led him to become the world record holder for the most touchdowns scored by an international front row with 20 in 22 appearances.

And the 26-year-old is now eager to continue his free-scoring form with Warriors who visit Bristol Bears today (3pm).

“As a hooker I play a big role in the lineout and want to be a huge key to making it a successful unit,” said Taufete’e who will prepare to step off the bench at Bristol.

“A mauling try is what we want as a forward group and to be on the back end of it is a joyous feeling.

“It is about knowing our individual roles and executing them to make it a whole.

“It’s a bit tougher for me (to slot back in) as I’m learning the lineouts and the different patterns that we run.

“But it’s just a matter of adjusting. We need to (make our maul a weapon). We have not got any of the returns that we have put forward.”

Warriors sit one place and three points ahead of bottom club Newcastle Falcons who host Sale Sharks at St James' Park today (5.30pm).

Taufete’e believes he and fellow internationals Josh Adams and Ben Te’o, who both start, can give Worcester “a breath of fresh air” after returning to the club this week.

“When boys come back they can bring in what they have learned whilst they were away,” Taufete’e said.

“As a forward pack we want to get some returns from our mauls. It’s something that I did with the US so I thought to myself that when I come back I can do the same here.”

Warriors ran in seven tries in a 52-7 thrashing of Bristol at Sixways in October.

But Taufete’e added: “The way that Bristol have been going since that match you can see that they have made big improvements to their game and structure overall.

“It’s always a huge game between Bristol and Worcester. It’s one of the biggest battles. It’s like a derby.

“I wouldn’t say there is a nervousness (at Warriors), I would say there is more of an awareness of where we are and what we need to do to push on.”