A snapshot of what Leicester Tigers Head Coach Michael Cheika had to say when he faced the press ahead of the final regular season of the 24/25 Gallagher Premiership...
ON DAN COLE'S RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
"Obviously, there will be a lot said about him and already we have seen the tributes flooding in but at the end of it all, what will be the defining commentary on Dan [Cole] is the incredible amount of games he has played at tighthead for Leicester Tigers and for England."
"He's had those impressive comebacks as well, with England, but what he will be remembered for is the amount he has done for this club and his country.
"I would describe him as really consistent; a consistent performer and a consistent person. He is a reserved character, and that meant that it took time for me to get to know him, but once you do get to know him, you see why he has done what he has done.
"You also get to see exactly how passionate he is about playing for this club and, honestly, that's what has rubbed off on me the most. I have found it incredibly helpful to me throughout the season. For someone who has achieved what he has up until now to still hold playing for the club, his club, in such high regard, that is very special."
USING RETIREES AS MOTIVATION FOR PERFORMANCE
"I actually said to the players today that I don't want to minimise the achievements of Dan [Cole], Ben Youngs or Mike Brown in that way."
"It isn't right that we would use all that they have done and that coming to an end for motivation to win one or two games of rugby. What they have done is deserving of so much more than that.
Likewise, for those leaving after a long time at the club at the end of the season, the same thing applies, because what we want to do for the rest of our time together is enjoy them as a group, have a great experience and lay foundations for what's to come next season at Leicester Tigers."
FIGHTING FOR A PLACE IN THE PLAY-OFFS
"If you were using the analogy of climbing a mountain, then we are at the point now of reaching for the summit. There is a finals-like atmosphere around this weekend, it's finals footy all the way now for us because you can't slip up with any of the games ahead of you."
"Therefore, how we prepare, what we put our focus on, and the intensity that we train with and pressure we put on ourselves to perform at training, to be ready for the weekend, is really important."
MOMENTUM HEADING INTO ROUND 18
"I don't know that we have a 'head of steam' because we got bashed up a bit in our last game."
"What we have done is always stay in the fight, worked hard for each other, and, importantly, we have learned from the things we have needed to throughout the season to improve for our next opportunity.
"You have got to own the things that go bad, embrace that, and work out how to fix it. Where we can be better is doing that on a regular basis; we need to string those games together, those performances together more consistently."
LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT COULD BE THIS SEASON
"There's no looking any further ahead than Newcastle Falcons. That's our only game left, that's it."
"Our finals footy starts now."
