JOE Taufete’e’s hat-trick was the “icing on the cake” in an impressive display from Worcester Warriors’ forwards, says head coach Carl Hogg.

The American hooker benefitted from three driving lineouts to touch down as Warriors’ front five proved more than a match for a "massive" Brive side at Sixways.

Prop Ethan Waller then crossed the whitewash as Worcester ended a run of six straight defeats with a 30-20 success over the French visitors in the European Challenge Cup.

Hogg felt Warriors' forwards wore their opposite numbers out.

“It was a great day for the forwards,” Hogg said.

“As Joe will say himself, he is just the icing on the cake as all the hard work is done up front.

“It is about managing field position and getting into the right areas to get your drive to apply pressure.

“Brive have a massive front five.

“We talked about playing with tempo in the game and trying to stretch their front five in phase play and make them make decision so we when we came to the set piece then we have effectively worn them out.

“I think that worked reasonably well and effectively.”

As well as Taufete’e, Hogg also singled out Waller and lock Pierce Phillips for praise.

“I am delighted for Joe as he has worked hard,” Hogg said.

“As for the rest of the group I thought Ethan did really well and Pierce performed well.

“But it is not about individuals.

“The one thing you can say about this group is that they have worked extremely hard as a (starting) 15, a (matchday) 23 and a wider squad throughout the last six to eight weeks.

“When you look at the number of points or wins we have got it is not great, but the endeavour and effort has been there all the time.”