Leicester Tigers Interim Head Coach Richard Wigglesworth was beaming with pride following his side's come-from-behind win over Gloucester Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
After less than a week in the top job at Tigers, Wigglesworth watched on as his squad turned around a half-time deficit to record a 15-point victory in front of more than 20,000 fans on Christmas Eve.
Speaking after the game, he said: "I'm proud of the whole group, proud of what they have done all week."
"I'm very happy they got a chance tonight - in front of 22,000 people who turned up for them on Christmas Eve - to show just what it means to them to play for Leicester Tigers."
Asked about what changed at the break, he added: "The discipline was miles better."
"They knew at half-time, which is one of the good things about this group, and they wanted to sort it.
"Before we even addressed it as coaches, the players knew what needed fixing and we then addressed it, together, and they then went out and put the plan into action."
Discussing what pleased him most in the win, making it six successive weekends without defeat for Tigers, Wigglesworth pinpointed the "intent" of his players in working towards the plan in place.
"I was really pleased with their intent tonight," Wigglesworth said.
"We wanted to move the ball to hurt the opposition and, once we got the discipline back on track, we got ourselves into key areas and the lads did a brilliant job executing the plan in the second half.
"It was very pleasing to see them adapt to the game in the way that they did and earn the win."
After the departures of Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield less than a week ago and loss of players to injury at the start of the week, Wigglesworth said the "attitude" of the side never wavered - across the club.
"If you don't turn up with the right attitude, you won't win it," said the Leicester Tigers Head Coach.
"That is never in question with this group and hasn't been all week and in recent weeks, despite everything going on.
"It isn't just those we saw tonight on the pitch, every single player at the club has played a part in remaining focused and working hard - together - during this period."
The Christmas Eve fixture, and final at home for Tigers in 2022, doubled as the inaugural Slater Cup meeting with Gloucester, which Wigglesworth said was a "privilege" for everybody at the club to play a part in.
"Everybody, not just in Leicester or Gloucester, has been touched by Ed's battle and is right behind him and his family in this fight," he said.
"The work he is doing follows in the footsteps of Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow and so many who are making the MND battle known far and wide and getting the awareness and hopefully more and more funds towards finding its cure.
"It is a privilege for all of us to have been involved in this first Slater Cup and, putting the game aside, to share in a special occasion like this here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road with so many people, including Ed and his family."
Leicester Tigers travel north in Round 14 to take on Sale Sharks on Friday, December 30 before a second successive away game - in the first fixture of 2023 - against Newcastle Falcons on Saturday, January 7.
