Four tries in the last 12 minutes of the last league game of the season gave Tigers 78 points in top spot and booked an Aviva Premiership home semi-final against Northampton Saints this Saturday.
“We should be exceptionally pleased and proud to be top after 22 rounds because it shows how consistent we are,” said director of rugby Cockerill.
“But there is no reward for finishing top and it counts for nothing next Saturday. Now we have to get it right in the semi-final and we’re looking forward to it.
“Northampton are one of the best sides in Europe at the moment, they are in the Heineken Cup Final. We’ve had two good battles with them already this season and it’s going to be massive, a local derby for a place in the Premiership Final, that is what the competition is all about.”
Tries from Horacio Agulla, Anthony Allen, Tom Croft and Alesana Tuilagi in the closing stages earned a 32-23 victory over London Irish to send a 24,000 capacity crowd home happy, though Tigers were not so pleased with their performance for the opening hour.
“It was a good finish and we got there in the end, but it was disappointing we got into a hole in the first place,” said Cockerill.
“We dominated possession but were a bit loose at times. We would not get away with that in a semi-final.
“But the spirit was never in doubt, the team did show great character to come back into it and a lot of sides would not have won that game.
“But we know we are better than that.”
Tickets for Saturday’s semi-final are on sale now. Phone the hotline on 0844 856 1880, call in at the ticket office (8.30am-5pm daily, until 8pm Wednesday) or book online.
Special prices apply for this fixture and season ticket holders can claim discounted rates by visiting the Tigers ticket office or using the telephone hotline.
