Michael Cheika believes his side took “steps forward” as a group despite leaving London without a win from the Gallagher Premiership game against Harlequins.
We hung in there, we kept fighting and we come away with three points ... would have preferred more but I'm proud of that showing from the lads tonight
Although Tigers didn't take a win home to Leicester, Cheika’s troops are returning to the East Midlands with the next-best thing after an 80th minute try to Dan Cole secured a four try bonus-point and Handré Pollard’s conversion meant the fixture ended in a draw.
Speaking after the match, Cheika said: “It keeps us in that top half of the table heading into the New Year, so it's positive when you consider the alternative of losing if we don't get across for that last try.”
“We hung in there, we kept fighting and we come away with three points ... would have preferred more but I'm proud of that showing from the lads tonight.”
Quizzed on why he thought they hadn’t been able to get the win, he put it down to execution of opportunities created.
“We had multiple opportunities and didn't execute the chances we gave ourselves,” said Cheika.
“That's it, that's simple to see and we now have to go back to Leicester and work on it before next week and before the second half of the season. Now we get moving and we change that, we improve it and we start that now for next week.”
The Head Coach was also strong in his praise for the group, outlining “physicality” and “mental strength” as areas of improvement.
“I thought we were tougher this week than last, more physical than we have been and, to be honest, I'd like to go up another level in physicality and see more of that next week,” he said.
“The mental strength to stay in the game, stay calm and get that fourth try, level up the game, was really good. I think there was steps forward today as a group.”
Speaking more broadly, Cheika also believes the signs are positive in the side’s journey to make changes and ensure the club is in a strong position in the long-term.
“We are trying to build something here at Leicester Tigers, something longer term, and it takes time to do that,” Cheika said.
“It takes time to make change, particularly on the back of where this group was last season and how that season ended.
“There's a change in attitude, change in way we are approaching the game and so it's a case of learning, together, and we do that through being in different situations. Tonight was a new one and the team fought back to come away with something when they might have had nothing, which is positive.”
Start 2025 at home with Tigers Family and friends for the New Year Double Header on Saturday, February 4.
Mattioli Woods Welford Road hosts a Gallagher Premiership game against Exeter Chiefs (3.05pm) before a Premiership Women's Rugby showdown with Sale Sharks Women (5.50pm) next Saturday, January 4.
Be there to cheer on both sides in the first fixture of 2025 as the second half of the campaign officially gets underway!
