Geordan Murphy says Leicester Tigers "learned with every game" as they lifted the Premiership Rugby Sevens Plate at The Stoop.
Tigers lost their opening game of finals night, as they had done in the qualifying pool, but bounced back strongly to beat London Irish 17-0 in the Plate Final on Friday evening.
Coach Murphy, who has led the team to the knockout stages in two successive summers, said: “I think the boys showed that they learned from their lessons in both weekends. We were more patient at times and defence was brilliant for a side that has come together in a short space of time. We conceded a couple of tries against Newcastle in that first game last week that I don’t think we would have conceded again, which shows we learned those lessons and we got better as we went on.
“We were a bit naïve in the opening game tonight when we were leading with just a few seconds left, but there was a bit of confusion and Cardiff Blues were able to take the opportunity to score.
"Then, after losing the opening game, we made a slow start against Saints and were 12 points down. I think it was a bit of a hangover from losing that first game, but we gave them a bit of a pep talk at half-time and it was nice to come through and win that one. Then we won the final well.
“It’s great for the boys that they played so well over the two weekends and they take a trophy home.
“We brought in a few guys and everyone gelled together really well. We brought in some sevens experience but I thought our boys looked equally at home in the end.”
Murphy enjoyed watching “a good all-round effort” from the full squad too.
“The young boys did really well, they did all we asked and they did well for each other,” he added. “They got to play over two weekends on a decent stage, with good crowds and in front of the television cameras, and that has to be good for them. George Tresidder did well stepping in as captain, Jake Farnworth and Will Owen did well out there, Oli Bryant did well, David Williams got a lot of minutes after a tough week on camp with the Academy, they all made a significant contribution.”
Tigers lost their opening game of finals night, as they had done in the qualifying pool, but bounced back strongly to beat London Irish 17-0 in the Plate Final on Friday evening.
Coach Murphy, who has led the team to the knockout stages in two successive summers, said: “I think the boys showed that they learned from their lessons in both weekends. We were more patient at times and defence was brilliant for a side that has come together in a short space of time. We conceded a couple of tries against Newcastle in that first game last week that I don’t think we would have conceded again, which shows we learned those lessons and we got better as we went on.
“We were a bit naïve in the opening game tonight when we were leading with just a few seconds left, but there was a bit of confusion and Cardiff Blues were able to take the opportunity to score.
"Then, after losing the opening game, we made a slow start against Saints and were 12 points down. I think it was a bit of a hangover from losing that first game, but we gave them a bit of a pep talk at half-time and it was nice to come through and win that one. Then we won the final well.
“It’s great for the boys that they played so well over the two weekends and they take a trophy home.
“We brought in a few guys and everyone gelled together really well. We brought in some sevens experience but I thought our boys looked equally at home in the end.”
Murphy enjoyed watching “a good all-round effort” from the full squad too.
“The young boys did really well, they did all we asked and they did well for each other,” he added. “They got to play over two weekends on a decent stage, with good crowds and in front of the television cameras, and that has to be good for them. George Tresidder did well stepping in as captain, Jake Farnworth and Will Owen did well out there, Oli Bryant did well, David Williams got a lot of minutes after a tough week on camp with the Academy, they all made a significant contribution.”
