Toby Flood paid tribute to Leicester's forwards after their 38-27 bonus-point victory over Perpignan at welford Road on Saturday.
Fly-half grateful for front eight's effort
Toby Flood paid tribute to Leicester's forwards after their 38-27 bonus-point victory over Perpignan at Welford Road on Saturday.
Flood scored 23 points and the first of four tries as the Tigers maintained their unbeaten Heineken Cup record.
Aaron Mauger profited from a scything run from Dan Hipkiss but Perpignan kept themselves in touch with a breakaway try from centre Maxime Mermoz and an opportunist effort from flanker Ovidiu Tonita.
But the Tigers scrum had been in destructive mood all night and Perpignan's resistance was broken when Leicester drove them 10 yards back over their own line for Jordan Crane to touch down.
Matt Smith sealed the bonus point with a jinking break down the touchline and, although Perpignan were awarded a late penalty try, Leicester's scrum had done the damage.
Talent
"That pack was phenomenal," said Flood. "They have so much talent and so much want and desire to be successful.
"Julian has done everything you possibly can do as a player and yet there he is at the forefront of our pack and pushing them over from 10 metres.
"Playing behind that pack and the atmosphere and drive it gives the team is unbelievable.
"And then you have Lewis Moody who just runs around like it is his last game and without a care in the world. You would never believe he has kids and a family!"
Flood returned to domestic action after five tough weeks with England, which ended in a 32-6 defeat to New Zealand, but he insisted his confidence had not been dented.
Fantastic
"It is fantastic to be back," he said.
"The one pleasure of playing for England is that you are representing your country but when you come back to the club you step out of the limelight and you can get back to what you were doing before you went off with England.
"You almost slot straight back in.
"You have to have confidence if you play 10 or 12 because you need to control the game. My confidence was never really affected by what happened last week."
