WORCESTER Warriors head coach Carl Hogg called on his side to produce an 80-minute performance in the build-up to this clash but a 40-minute display proved enough to claim a 12th win in a row.

The Sixways outfit trailed 15-6 after a poor first-half show with Munster ‘A’ much the better side in the first 40.

But a brilliant second half performance was capped by tries from captain JB Bruzulier and his replacement Charlie Mulchrone as Warriors earned the win that sent them into the last eight of the British and Irish Cup.

Worcester were under pressure early on and spent nearly the entire opening 10 minutes pinned inside their own half.

Rob O’Donnell was an early casualty after a clash of heads and Joe Rees replaced the prop after just five minutes with a Rory Scannell penalty on eight minutes moving Munster ‘A’ into an early lead.

Worcester laid down a maker in the first scrum a minute later with referee Rhys Thomas awarding the penalty to the visitors.

Ignacio Mieres slotted the long-range penalty and the scores were level at 3-3.

A superb offload by full-back Ben Howard sent Ben Sowrey through a gap in midfield and when Munster were subsequently caught offside, another clean strike by Mieres on 20 minutes made it 6-3.

That was to be as good as it got for Worcester in the first-half, however, as Munster ’A’ hit back almost immediately with the first try.

Seán McCarthy claimed the restart for Munster and passed to number eight Jack O’Donoghue who was allowed to race into the right corner.

Scannell was off target with the conversion but Munster now led 8-6.

Things got worse for Worcester four minutes later as full-back Andrew Conway was released in space down the left wing, he chipped the ball into the corner before collecting himself to touch down the second try.

Scannell added the touchline conversion and Munster ‘A’ led 15-6.

Worcester spent much of the remainder of the half under pressure but some dogged defence kept Munster at bay until the break.

There must have been some stern words in the dressing room at half-time because Warriors made a much better start to the second-half.

Ravai Fatiaki made a good break in midfield and then Dean Hammond nearly collected Howard’s chip through the defence but play was called back for an earlier knock-on with Munster eventually clearing.

Worcester now had the hosts under massive pressure and it finally told on 62 minutes as Mieres went to the corner from a penalty and captain Bruzulier emerged with the try after immense work by the forwards in the maul.

Mieres, who had clearly brought his kicking boots, kicked the tricky conversion to make it 15-13 with 18 minutes left on the clock.

Scannell hit back immediately with a penalty to move Munster back into a five-point lead.

Then came the defining moment as substitute Charlie Mulchrone brilliantly jinked his way through the defence to level the scores with Mieres’ conversion giving Worcester a 20-18 lead.

Munster tried to muster a late comeback but the Warriors defence was immense as they comfortably held on for the win with Mieres adding a late penalty.

Warriors: Howard; Watkins (Stephenson 51), Grove, Fatiaki, Hammond; Mieres, Bruzulier (Capt) (Mulchrone 69); Fainga'anuku, Sowrey (George 69), O'Donnell (Rees 5); Percival, Sanderson; de Carpentier, Gilbert, Cox. Replacements: Bower, Rees, Kerry, Lamb.

Attendance: 700.

Referee: Rhys Thomas (Wales).