Despite a six-try, 40-7, bonus point win at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Michael Cheika believes there is still plenty of improvement left in his side.
Speaking after the game, the Leicester Tigers Head Coach said: “From a coaching point of view, it was not as successful as I would have liked. In the first half I thought we were poor in some areas that I think are key to our game. We had to have a discussion about that at half time."
“In the second half we definitely brought that, and that led the platform for us getting some scores. I’m happy for the day and how it all worked out, but I’d like to see us come out of the blocks with a little bit more, with the quality we want to bring to games every week."
“We were not consistent enough from last week. I think we have to build on top of what we’ve done. I don’t want to be negative but if I say something that’s not right outside then the players read it, the fans read it and I want them to know exactly how I feel – I want us to be better.
“I want us to be in the mix when the whips are cracking at the end. It’s still so tight and it’s all going to count so I’m happy about the result and I think the players and fans will be as well. Some parts of the game we brought ourselves back in but we want to be better from the off.”
A sold-out Mattioli Woods Welford Road was boisterous throughout a crucial clash in The Run In, with both Tigers wings at the forefront of the scores with Adam Radwan grabbing a hat-trick and Ollie Hassell-Collins scoring a brace.
Asked about both, Cheika said: “He’s a quality player. You have to respect the club going after him mid-season and he’s blended in super quickly, he’s enjoying his footy [as some Australians call rugby] on the field and he’s a great fella off the field. We’ve got to keep giving them more and more opportunities."
“The wingers have their job to do – today when Harlequins are down numbers then it’s a wingers day, you know, not just going from side to side but drag people in and then shift it.”
There are just two regular season home games remaining at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, against Sale Sharks (May 9) and Newcastle Falcons (May 31), as well as an away trip to Bath Rugby.
On the effort from those in the stands, Cheika added: “‘It was a successful afternoon from a club point of view, points in our pocket and a full house crowd here, with an atmosphere that is like no other in this league."
"This place, our house, when it's full is the best place to be and what we really want to do is send our fans home happy, which hopefully they have been able to do today.”
