WORCESTER Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock was left to rue the inexperience of his side as they crashed to a 37-22 defeat at Ospreys.

The result at the Liberty Stadium has left their hopes of reaching the last four of the EDF Energy Cup hanging by a thread.

Worcester now need a bonus-point victory over Harlequins on Sunday while hoping that London Irish see off the Ospreys without either picking up a bonus-point for the Sixways side to progress to the semi-finals in March.

With injuries already biting, Ruddock had to call on 10 academy products after the late withdrawals of Rico Gear and Loki Crichton to hip abductor strains.

Chris Latham limped off due to cramp with only 10 minutes left on the clock, handing Tom Wheatcroft his first-team debut.

“I would like to have brought my best players,” Ruddock said.

“The likes of Pat Sanderson and Rico could have made a big difference for us. It would have been nice to have Chris for the final 10 minutes because we were lacking so much experience.”

Ruddock paid tribute to young prop Matt Mullan following his late try-saving tackle on Wales fly-half James Hook.

“It may have surprised you but not us,” Ruddock said. “We know what Matt is about. He has scrummaged well against Matt Stevens at Bath, Phil Vickery at Wasps and Julian White at Leicester.

“Just recently, he made 18 tackles in a match. He has the potential to play for England.”