Heineken Cup Pool 5: Leicester boss Richard Cockerill delighted and relieved
Friday 8 August 2014 15:58, UK
Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill thinks his side's late win over Montpellier could be a 'defining moment' in their Heineken Cup campaign.
Tigers centre Vereniki Goneva crossed in the 79th minute to claim a comeback win, sealed by Ryan Lamb's conversion.
It keeps Leicester three points behind Pool Five leaders Ulster with the two sides due to meet in a crunch clash at Welford Road in January.
Cockerill said: "You give Montpellier a few opportunities and they will score and then you're chasing your tail.
"At 14-8 we could have been happy to take the bonus point and not risk losing it but credit to the players, they kept playing and manufacturing opportunities to score tries even if we didn't necessarily take them.
Trending
- Rashford 'ready for new challenge' as Man Utd exit links intensify
- Papers: Vinicius beats Rodri to FIFA Best award by five votes
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Should Rashford leave Man Utd? Have your say!
- Arsenal, Spurs, Man Utd, Newcastle - Why they need to win Carabao Cup
- 'He got hit and was screaming!' - Fury trained like 'lone wolf' for Usyk
- Sherrock denied Littler showdown in agonising final-set defeat at Worlds
- Wolves forward Cunha charged with misconduct
- EFL latest: Rowett in talks over Birmingham job as Burton appoint Bowyer
- Chelsea's Mudryk in 'complete shock' over FA suspension for failed drugs test
- Revealed: Damning stats show why Fury could struggle to overcome Usyk
"But this was what we needed in the competition, those four points to keep the pressure on Ulster.
"This is massive for us, with another massive game in Treviso to come.
"We can't take anything for granted but we want to get the win there and then bring Ulster at Welford Road for a grand stand finish."
Cockerill added: "We played pretty well and had a few good opportunities to score.
Keep playing
"Miles Benjamin was a whisker away and we could have scored a few more so we did enough to win the game. It is what Leicester do well, they keep doing what they do, they keep playing.
"Even today with Toby (Flood) going off and Daniel Bowden going off, the lads just kept playing, knowing that opportunities would come.
"Fair play to Marcos Ayerza after 79 minutes he showed what makes the difference between being good and very good.
It's a massive win and potentially the defining moment that can get you out of a pool. This puts us in good position to finish top of the group, and maybe get a home quarter-final.
"And to Niki Goneva for getting up again to get close to the sticks for a better conversion.
"It's a massive win and potentially the defining moment that can get you out of a pool. This puts us in good position to finish top of the group, and maybe get a home quarter-final.
"But there's still a long way to go, we can't take Treviso lightly but it's still in our hands.
"I'm delighted for the players, it's their victory. We hadn't won in France since 2006, this group of players have made a little bit of history for themselves."
