Steve Borthwick was proud of his players and pleased for supporters when speaking post-match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday.
The Leicester Tigers Head Coach, and his squad, progressed through the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup for the first time in six seasons with a 27-17 win over Clermont Auvergne in the 2nd Leg of the Round of 16.
When asked for his immediate reaction, Borthwick said: “It is very pleasing, especially for our supporters who for a long time have not experienced knockout rugby at this level.”
“I hope each and everyone of the almost 23,000 fans that were here today are going home proud of the players. I know I certainly am, they deserve enormous credit for what they have done.”
Assessing the match, he added: “I thought there were some things today that we did very well and some others that needed to be better, which I was pleased to see the players pick up on and make adjustments out on the pitch.”
“We were challenged at different times today and the response from the players on the pitch was one that helped us get into a position to win the game and, ultimately, progress to the next stage of this tournament.”
The 10-point victory, which saw the aggregate finish at 56-27 after back-to-back fixtures, sees Tigers through to the next stage of this season’s Champions Cup and sets up a showdown with European powerhouses Leinster in May.
However, while many already talking about the first meeting between the two clubs in more than a decade, Borthwick and his players are focused on the task of travelling to Twickenham to take on the reigning Premiership champions.
“Like with every week, again, the only focus for us now is Harlequins away,” he said.
“It will be a big game, up against a team of Leinster’s quality and star power at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, but for us, now, we have another big game to prepare for against the current Premiership champions at their home ground.”
After one of the club’s best runs in European rugby in several seasons, the Tigers Head Coach said there was still plenty to enjoy - but the hard work is far, far from over in Leicester.
“Of course we will enjoy it, we enjoy every victory, but we don’t get caught up in them either,” said Borthwick.
“We have only ever talked about the next game, as cliche as it may be, that is always our focus. It has to be, we are still a side early on in our journey and have a lot of work to come, together.
“I am not sure anybody would have had Leicester Tigers as quarter-finalists in the Champions Cup at the start of the season, which is down to the players for their work and their effort.”
After welcoming another crowd in excess of 20,000 fans at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, the Tigers boss said he and his players feel ‘privileged’ by the level of support so far this season.
“We cannot thank them enough,” said Borthwick.
“I have said it before and will say it again, I have never experienced support like what we have here at Leicester Tigers.
“Since the first game that supporters were allowed back in, they have flooded back through the gates and been behind the team.
“It is a privilege, for all of us, to be able to represent this club and represent the Leicester Tigers fans.”
