WORLD Cup winner Wynand Olivier says Worcester Warriors should target strengthening the foundations of fortress Sixways in Saturday’s Aviva Premiership finale against Leicester Tigers (4pm).

It follows Worcester fluffing their last chance to get a win on the road in an agonising 16-14 defeat at Newcastle Falcons.

Warriors looked set for their first top-flight away win for 13 months after a penalty try and a five-point score by Olivier, both converted by stand-in skipper Ryan Mills, gave them a hard-earned 14-9 lead midway through the second half.

But then just six minutes from time Newcastle’s lively Tongan scrum-half Tane Takulua burst over from the base of a five-metre scrum and added the conversion to leave Warriors with the scant consolation of a losing bonus point.

Having dominated the first half without managing to trouble the scoreboard and held out Newcastle for 74 minutes it added up to a frustrating damp squib of a night for the Warriors following the euphoria of the thrilling 25-19 home win against Bath a fortnight previously and Gary Gold’s appointment as permanent director of rugby.

“Going into half-time review we felt we had them,” Olivier reflected.

“We created opportunities in the first half that we maybe should have finished. If we had done that it would have been a different story for us.”

But Olivier and his team-mates have the opportunity to finish the campaign on a high against Leicester at Sixways where they have won four out of five Premiership games since the turn of the year.

They could also still possibly sneak 10th place, starting the final day four points behind Sale Sharks who are at home to Bath.

“One of the goals for us was turning Sixways into a fortress and the place has been good to us,” said Olivier.

“Leicester’s a big one for us and we definitely want to finish on a high.

“The crowd has been unbelievable and Gary has given us a lot of confidence. He’s given us a game-plan which the boys have bought into.

“Getting him signed up is a great thing for us. We know what we’ve got to do getting ready for next season.”

Reflecting on the win that got away and looking ahead to the Leicester finale Gold said: “We’ve got to look at ourselves. There were enough opportunities and we didn’t convert them.

“We haven’t won on the road and that’s very disappointing. That was a big goal at Newcastle but we have done well at home.

“A packed Sixways is a big factor for us. It’s important we put in a really good performance for our supporters who have toiled hard with us this season.”