WORCESTER Warriors’ defensive guru Omar Mouneimne believes imposing blindside flanker Ted Hill has gone from being “a big lump of meat” to a bone-crunching tackler.

Since hitting the headlines with a try-scoring debut at Leicester Tigers in September Hill has continued to make his presence felt in the Gallagher Premiership.

The 19-year-old who stands at 6ft 5in and weighs 17st 4lbs has notched five tries in 13 first-team appearances this term and won his first England cap when he featured off the bench against Japan in November.

While the ability to finish off opportunities has helped to put Hill’s name in the spotlight it has been the development of his defensive game that has delighted Mouneimne.

“Ted is a big lump of meat but we had to get him to sit in the right place and make the right shots,” Mouneimne said.

“If you run around like a headless chicken, not knowing when to hold or push up and who your man is it is not going to work – no matter how big you are.

“But Ted has applied himself.

“He has got the system knowledge, knows where to be and now his ability to make the hit is really good. If you look at him (against Ospreys) he had 20 shots, seven dominant. He was phenomenal.”

Another Warriors academy player that has impressed Mouneimne is Ollie Lawrence.

The 19-year-old outside centre has made 10 outings for Worcester this season.

“Thirteen is a tough position to read decoy plays off strike moves,” Mouneimne said.

“Against Ospreys Ollie shut down three or four plays on the edge on his own, got turnovers and got intercepts.

"His journey has been quite fascinating.”

Mouneimne who joined Warriors as defence and kicking strategy coach at the end of the 2016-17 campaign said he felt he had also been able to teach Warriors’ more senior players new tricks including Darren Barry, Ryan Mills, Jonny Arr and Nick Schonert.

“Darren has been around the block but has been applying himself,” Mouneimne said.

“We have also worked on Ryan’s defence.

“He is a stocky, strong guy but we have stopped him leg tackling and given him a different responsibility in terms of reads. He has come a long way.

“Even Jonny has improved.

“For a small scrum-half who has been used to a certain way of doing things has evolved his style.

“Also, look at Sharkey (Schonert). His shots are better than they have even better.

“Everyone has made that step up in their own way and shored up their own weakness.”