Michael Cheika put his side's 42-20 win over Newcastle Falcons down to getting the 'fundamentals' right.
Speaking after the match, in which Leicester Tigers crossed for six tries in front of more than 25,000 fans at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, the Head Coach said: “We were frustrated by some 50/50s that didn’t go our way but the fundamentals of the game; the physicality of the game and our defence, which I thought for 70 minutes was really good, helped us to this win."
“We had to play a lot of rugby, a lot of phases, and when that doesn’t go your way, sometimes you can drop your head.
"But at half time we talked about how the fundamentals of our game have been good in the ruck, carry and etectera, but we don’t need to be trying too hard – try and simplify a couple of things and then make it count in the second half and we got the scores we needed."
The Tigers boss also said there was no complacency for his team heading into the clash and instead thought they overplayed at times.
"There is never any expectation of winning any game, especially not based on our position on the ladder. I’m experienced enough to know that the position on the table means nothing when it comes to the game," said Cheika.
“I actually feel like there’s a part of me that’s quite happy because we were trying too hard. There wasn’t a lack of want or a feeling that it’s just going to happen – we were trying to make it happen too much."
Looking ahead to the play-offs, Cheika was asked if reaching the final four had achieved the targets for the squad at the start of the campaign.
“To be honest, we haven’t targeted anything - except winning the comp. Nobody comes into this without the intention to win it. But I never really had a premeditated idea of where we were going to be," he said.
“I’m really pleased for the fans that they get another opportunity to see the team this year here at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, and I’m really pleased for the players to have another chance to play in front of their people, their families, here at home next weekend."
On the challenge of coming up against the Sale Sharks, he added: “It’s the semi-finals of the Premiership, so it’s going to be a tough battle and that’ll be good."
"I would expect this is going to be the hardest game of the season without a doubt. They are a top-quality side, they have excellent coaching, and they’ve got great players.
"They've got a fly-half in George Ford who should have been on the Lions tour, no doubt, I still don’t know how they didn’t pick him to be honest.
"There is quality throughout the side and we are looking forward to it – it's the Premiership play-offs, how could you want anything else?”
The match doubled as a celebration of the careers of retiring trio Dan Cole, Ben Youngs, and Mike Brown, with the sold-out crowd turning up to honour the careers of three Premiership and England legends.
Speaking about the privilege of being involved in the day, Cheika said: “As a coach, you’re always tied up in how you run these things. But those players are iconic players, and I wanted to make sure that that iconic part of their characters was represented here today and then acknowledged in the right way."
“I know that it’s about the footy and getting the win, we get all that, but a club looks after it’s people – it sends a sign to Jack Kinder, Ollie Allen, Finn Carnduff and all those players coming through our Academy that we love our players and we look after them when the time comes to make sure we acknowledge their contributions."
Tickets to the Premiership play-off at Mattioli Woods Welford Road are now on sale, exclusively available to Season Ticket Holders until 3pm on Monday, June 2, when the Tigers Together members buying window opens.
General sale for tickets opens at 8am on Tuesday, June 3, with prices starting from only £25 for Adults.
