Worcester shrugged off their woeful Premiership form to produce their best performance of the season as they brushed aside Montauban 41-18 at Sixways.

The Warriors scored five tries and Australian-born fly-half Shane Drahm had the ball on a string as he collected a personal tally of 21 points in the European Challenge Cup Pool 2 match .

The Warriors went into the match without new signing Greg Rawlinson, after it was discovered the South African-born All Black second-rower was registered in time to play in the European Challenge Cup.

Rawlinson, who has three caps for New Zealand, arrived at Sixways during the week, but it was too late to cut through the red tape and enable him to take his place on the bench. Youngster Will Bowley was drafted into the squad.

Full-back Chris Pennell opened the scoring for Worcester and and Drahm added a couple of goals and back-rower Netani Talei opened a 17-3 lead.

Rival forwards Craig Gillies and Yannick Caballero traded tries, and while Drahm slotted a dropped goal to extend the lead, Montabaun showed they had come to play when winger Jean-Emmanuel Cassin scored on the stroke of halftime to narrow the margin to 27-13.

A rapid-fire brace of tries from Thinus Delport and Drahm clinched a try bonus point.