Leicester Tigers head coach, Dan McKellar has reacted to Tigers bonus-point New Year’s Eve win at a sold out Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Tigers fell heavily to Exeter last time out, and McKellar said his side spoke about getting the required response this week.

“Last week wasn’t up to our standards and we didn’t shy away from that and I thought we responded the way we wanted to, particularly in that first half,” McKellar said.

“I thought the first 40 minutes was outstanding. Even after the intercept, after starting so well, that could have impacted us, but we didn’t let it.

“I just thought we were really good coming out of our end and when we got into the 22 the power game took over.

“I thought mauled we really well, got a couple of points off the back of it, got a couple of penalty advantages and then I thought our forwards were really powerful around the corners and backs stepped up when they needed to on edges.”

On a night when Ollie Chessum made his 50th appearance for the club, McKellar praised the impact of both second-rowers, Chessum and George Martin remarkably starting their first ever game as a lock pairing in Tigers colours, a fact that surprised McKellar.

“Hard to believe they never played there together but they were outstanding tonight,” McKellar admitted.

“For Ollie to nail his role tonight, on his 50th was special and I thought he led us from the front with his physicality.

“Both of them are great young blokes, two very good rugby players who have got the world at their feet really.

“They’ve got many test matches and many games at Mattioli Woods Welford Road ahead of them.”