It was a pretty familiar saviour, though, in the shape of replacement Gaetan Germain. Last week he kicked six penalties, the last five minutes from time, to secure a 23-22 home win over Grenoble n the TOP 14 and this time he left it even later to snatch victory.

The pack used their power to earn a penalty 40 metres out from the Worcester posts and Germain stepped up to hit the target and move his side four points clear of the Dragons, who they host in Round 6, at the top of Pool 3.

If it was ecstasy for the home players and their fans, it was agony for the Warriors contingent. They had twice taken the lead, played a full part in an exciting contest and looked set to get something more than a losing bonus point out of the game.

A try from Marco Mama after 24 minutes, improved by Conor Braid, were the only points of a tense first-half. The Warriors’ defence was superb and caused so much frustration that the crowd booed both teams off the field at the break.

Brive got the perfect start to the second half when Fabien Sanconnie powered his way over and the conversion from Benjamin Lapeyre levelled the scores. Many thought that would be the signal for the home side to march on, but instead the Warriors hit back and regained the lead.

Braid pushed a penalty kick wide of the posts, but on 56 minutes loose head prop Val Rapava Ruskin powered over for a try that was confirmed after the referee went to the TMO. Ryan Mills converted and the home side were under the cosh once again.

They used their giant pack to get back into it and after two driving line-outs they managed to get Guillaume Ribes over for a try that Germain, who had come on as a replacement five minutes earlier, converted. Now it was a question of who could find the winning score and it looked as though the game was going to end in a draw.

Then up stepped Germain to win it at the death and give his side a four point cushion at the top of the pool.