Tigers were beaten 52-15 in the Legion Geneva Challenge in Switzerland, but these are the first steps towards the new season against a French side who are back in league action in just a week’s time.
Cockerill gave game-time to a 30-man squad and still has a full team of talent to come back into the playing group in the build-up to the big kick off on September 8.
“You don’t want to lose any game but it was a good exercise and now we have something to work from and the guys will be better for the experience,” said director of rugby Cockerill.
“It was a good occasion, a well organised event with some good support in a new venue and we’ll take a lot out of it.
“Those players have now been away from home, playing a very good French side. These lads had some good experience and game-time and will be better for the experience.
“It was a first time with the new scrums laws, we got game-time into a lot of the players and we were playing against a good side who are a few weeks ahead of us in terms of being ready for the new season.
“There were some errors, but it is about learning from them and preparing for September.”
Tigers started the game with just three players who also started the Aviva Premiership Final in May, and gave debuts to a dozen players.
“It was good to get the guys back on the pitch, they all got a taste of it and they now know the level we need to be at.
“Those young lads now know what it is like to play a good European side. It is a first attempt, we’ll look at the video and learn from it.”
