SKIPPER Pat Sanderson revealed how a video set to the theme tune of The Great Escape' helped motivate Warriors ahead of their 22-7 victory over Saracens.

Players watched the home movie the day before their big showdown and Sanderson says it helped keep them in the right frame of mind.

"We have had a bit of a Great Escape theme going on for a few months now," he said.

"Ever since we were nine points adrift, one of the lads came in whistling The Great Escape'.

"Ever since then, it has been a constant background theme around the club."

The film was part of a concerted attempt to relieve tension before the big day.

Sanderson believes the players were too tense when they found themselves in a similar situation two seasons ago and was determined to get it right this time around.

"When we played Northampton two years ago, it was very difficult and I don't think we quite got the balance right.

"We won that game when we probably didn't deserve too. This time, we prepared properly. We were a little bit more light-hearted at times when we needed to be and we concentrated on the process as opposed to the result.

"If we were thinking about what was happening in the Northampton game, we are not concentrating on what is important, getting the kick-offs right, making sure the line-outs were right, making sure we pressurised their line-outs, making sure our defence was perfect.

"Those are the things that were really important and the guys kept their focus under a lot of pressure."

The contribution of Sanderson, both before the game and during the match itself, was a key factor and earned the praise of director of rugby John Brain.

"I thought he led the team extremely well," said Brain. "In the build-up to the game, he said all the right things.

"He is an important player for us and you get a tremendous amount of pleasure from doing the business under pressure and he certainly did the business under pressure on Saturday."

The captain saved his thanks for the fans, who he says made a big impression on the Saracens players as well as his own.

"The supporters were unbelievable," said Sanderson.

"I spoke to Hugh Vyvyan and he said it was probably the best atmosphere that he has ever felt in a Premiership game and that shows just how passionate Worcester as a city is about this rugby club. That was a huge advantage."

MORE REACTION: PAGE 2.