Steve Borthwick praised the “collective effort” of the Leicester Tigers squad after Saturday’s victory over Sale Sharks.

George Ford kicked 14 points including the conversion of a try from Hanro Liebenberg in a 19-11 win in the sixth round of the Gallagher Premiership season in what Tigers head coach Borthwick described as a “high-level game of rugby”.

“It is always difficult to single out a player or particular individuals,” Borthwick said.

“The effort collectively was very good. Against a team of that quality it needs to be a collective effort.

“It was a really hard-fought game, I thought both teams played a good game of rugby. They ran hard, hit hard, tackled hard, every one of the players from both teams deserves enormous respect for the intensity they played in that game.

“It was a game of very few opportunities, it was about taking opportunities when they came and we were able to take that one opportunity we got.”

There was little to separate the teas on the scoreboard in the first half, with Tigers 6-3 ahead at half-time, before an impressive third quarter which included the Liebenberg try created by the work of Jasper Wiese and Ben Youngs. The lead reached 13 points before Sharks scored their try in the final action of the game.

“In the first half we did some things that probably allowed them a few too many opportunities,” Borthwick added.

“The players adjusted at half-time and did a really good job in that third quarter, credit to the leaders and players in that period.”

Tigers go to Northampton Saints in Round 7 on Saturday in the opening East Midlands derby of the season and then host Bath Rugby on Friday, November 5 (7.45pm). Match tickets are available now.