WASPS director of rugby Dai Young believes Worcester Warriors will be a “tough nut to crack” in this season’s Aviva Premiership.

The former Wales international felt Wasps’ 52-30 victory in Saturday’s warm-up match at Sixways had flattered his side.

Wasps were clinical in attack, running in seven tries against Worcester, and Young admitted that “if you get opportunities you have got to score” in the top flight.

Warriors open their Premier - ship campaign against Northampton Saints at Sixways on October 16.

“I think Worcester are going to be a tough nut to crack here,” said Young.

“We certainly knew what was going to be facing us when we came to Worcester.

“I think Worcester have got a good squad and are well coached with a lot of experience off the field with Dean (Dean Ryan and Hoggy (Carl Hogg).

“I would be quite confident if I was them and I certainly wouldn’t be worrying too much about this result.

“Obviously, they have been playing in the Championship which they dominated for a year and coming up a level there’s going to be a little bit of an adjustment made.

“But I think by the time the season starts they will have totally adjusted.

"They have enough good players within their ranks and have experience off the field.

"I am sure they are going to go from strength to strength in the Premiership and will be tough nut to crack.”

Warriors trailed 24-10 at half-time in Saturday’s match after conceding two quick-fire tries in the dying minutes of the first period.

Young said: “You don’t get many opportunities to score in the Premiership and the better teams in the league will punish you.

"We have found that to our own cost and it’s something Worcester will identify very quickly.

“If you get opportunities you have got to score. If you make mistakes in critical areas it’s going to hurt you.

“But I am sure they will get up to speed with things very quickly.”

Young felt Warriors had put pressure on Wasps at the breakdown and at the set-piece.

“I thought we played some really good stuff and Worcester made us work really hard at the breakdown and at the set-piece,” said Young.

“A couple of bounces of the ball went our way as well.

“I thought the score flattered us and there wasn’t as much in the game as the score suggested.

“We had a couple of turnovers and the odd bounce of the ball went our way which allowed us to get a couple of scores in front.

“Against any team in the Premiership if you get a couple of scores in front it will be hard to turn around.”