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Cheika proud of Leicester grit after winning start as boss / Photo: © AFP
Cheika proud of Leicester grit after winning start as boss
Michael Cheika said Leicester had been rewarded for "playing the long game" after the Australian's reign as Tigers head coach began with a dramatic 17-14 win at Exeter in the English Premiership on Saturday.
Former Australia and Argentina boss Cheika was appointed in pre-season after compatriot Dan McKellar left after a single campaign in charge of two-time European champions Leicester, who finished a lowly eighth in the Premiership and were knocked out in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.
The 57-year-old Cheika's bid to revive the fallen English giants' fortunes got off to an encouraging start as they snatched victory at Sandy Park thanks to Wales flanker Tommy Reffell's stoppage-time try, despite Leicester having former Exeter centre Solomone Kata sent off for a high challenge late on.
"We talked about playing the long game, not being too anxious to get things going early on," Cheika said.
"You need to be in the pressure cooker of the game and be prepared to defend for long periods.
"I felt like the way we played the long game, we were always going to be in it right until the end. We didn't panic -- even me!"
Cheika singled out Leicester flanker Olly Cracknell, who produced an outstanding display following the death of his father earlier this week.
"Respect to him and his family from everyone at Tigers," said Cheika.
"We are feeling for him.
"I left him all week and he called me up and said that his family wanted him to play, that that's what his dad would have wanted."
Exeter boss Rob Baxter labelled the defeat as "a slap in the face".
"I said to the players I hoped we were further down the line than to look so callow and inexperienced in the last 20 minutes as we did today," Baxter said.
Saracens, now without former captain Owen Farrell after the England stalwart left to join Racing 92, began the season with a 35-26 win away to Gloucester, with Andy Onyema-Christie scoring two of their four tries.
On Friday, Bath turned the tables on Premiership champions Northampton with a 38-16 win at the Recreation Ground three months after they lost to the Saints in last season's final at Twickenham.
Bristol also made a winning start on Friday with a 24-3 victory at Newcastle.
Sale face Harlequins in Sunday's final game of the first round.
V.Mitchell--SFF
