WERNER Swanepoel has apologised to Worcester Rugby Club's supporters after their second-half collapse at Rotherham.

The Sixways' skipper was disconsolate after seeing his side end up 38-13 losers in the National One showdown between the two top teams.

Worcester were leading 13-6 at half-time after a superb performance, but they fell away badly in the second-half and Swanepoel was first to admit they'd let the travelling support down.

"I'd like to apologise to the supporters because we've let them down and they were fantastic.

"It's not the end of the world. If you look at last season they beat us at Rotherham and we beat them at Sixways so we know that we've got to play them again."

Back row star Jim Jenner was also bewildered as to why there had been such a turnaround in fortunes for the Worcester team.

"It was like the rug was pulled from under us," he said. "It is very upsetting really because the game meant a lot to everyone. The dressing room was a very dour place afterwards."

n Worcester's Ben Hinshelwood played the whole match for Scotland in their 36-22 win over Fiji at Murrayfield yesterday.