Jones missed five but kicked four at Sale

Worcester skipper Pat Sanderson say he is backing Matthew Jones after the fly-half missed five kicks against Sale.

The struggling Warriors went on to win the game 17-9, denying the Sharks the chance to go top of the table.

"You've go to look at his whole performance, not just his kicking - how he played and how he ran the game," he told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"It's the best he's played this season. We gave him some stick after but he's a tough cookie. He's got a thick skin."

He added: "That can be seen by his attitude towards kicks, and I know I had no problem giving him the ball to kick again.

"He just starts all over again, and there are very few characters in he game who would have kicked that last one.

I had every confidence in him and he's got every confidence in himself Worcester skipper Pat Sanderson

"But I had every confidence in him and he's got every confidence in himself.

Jones has also got the backing of Warriors coach Clive Griffiths.

"The good thing is he didn't let his kicking affect the rest of his game. His game was good, and his passing and defensive games were good.

Griffiths was coaching with Wales when Jones played in his only international, and he feels the former Ospreys player is getting back to that standard:

"He is certainly getting there, I've seen him play a lot, and we were confident when he came here he would make the grade.

"He got capped on the 2005 tour, so everything was in front of him, but the cruciate ligament injury knocked him back for a whole season.

"It's going to take him until after Christmas to bed in. He's doing OK now , and he's not far off.

"He's good enough to play international rugby again, he's been there, he's seen it and done it, he's very courageous, and we don't have too many number tens in Wales at the moment."

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