Defeat away to Edinburgh a week earlier had ended Tigers’ hopes of qualification for the European quarter-finals this season, but the players were determined to bounce back with a good performance before returning to domestic duties.
Rabeni, who scored the second Tigers try and picked up the Heineken Man of the Match award in the 25-9 victory over Leinster, said: “It was a very down week for us after losing to Edinburgh and we came back knowing we had to win on Saturday.
“We were not in the chase for a place in the quarter-final but we had to play for our pride and for our supporters.
“We had to get ourselves back on track and get us set for the rest of the games we have to come in the Guinness Premiership and the EDF Energy Cup.
“Hopefully this will give us momentum for next week and the weeks coming up.”
Rabeni returned at centre, alongside Ayoola Erinle who answered a late call after injury to Ollie Smith, in a much-changed Leicester team and he was delighted with the response of all of the players.
“The boys in the squad are all quality players and you have to wait for your opportunity,” said the Fijian international.
“It is competitive and, if we want to play again in the next week you have to play well and let the coaches think about it.”
