DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Ryan is hoping Worcester Warriors learned their lessons last month against Bristol.

Warriors had Cooper Vuna and Jonathan Thomas yellow-carded in a 30-26 defeat against Andy Robinson’s men in the final game of the Championship’s regular season.

Warriors will head to Ashton Gate to face Bristol in the first leg of the Championship final on Wednesday (7.45pm) knowing the importance of keeping 15 men on the field.

Ryan said: “I think everybody involved in rugby knows that discipline is quite a key point.

“I am hoping we have learned our lessons in an environment outside of the most important games.

If we haven’t then those players are responsible for putting this team under pressure.

“Gavin Henson is a long-range goal-kicker and an experienced goal-kicker so it’s pretty obvious that discipline is important — it always is — otherwise we will lose control of the game.

“We haven’t had a huge issue with ill-discipline across the season.

“All we did was get in a situation which was not just of our own making in the Bristol game a few weeks ago.”

Ryan continued: “I didn’t think two of the yellow cards were necessary. But the fact is that happened and it put us in a situation where we had a pretty significant lead and lost the game.

"In two weeks time, am I going to say that was a useful lesson in us win - ning the play-offs?

"I don’t know the answer to that. But everybody is aware of the repercussions of not getting the discipline right.”

Ryan believes the battle of the packs will have a major impact over the two legs.

“We have seen a lot of Bristol — they have got a good drive and a decent set piece and I think that will be a key part of the contest,” added Ryan.