Pool Six: The hymn sheets were similar as Leinster coach Michael Cheika and his captain, Brian O'Driscoll, ruminated on a deserved victory over the Leicester Tigers and an impressive starting point to this season's Heineken European Cup campaign.

The overviews were delivered with a quiet air of satisfaction but no one was getting carried away given what promises to be a difficult and demanding journey through Pool Six.

O'Driscoll explained: "That's the great thing about this competition. You win your first game and everything looks great, lose it and you're under huge pressure.

"Had we lost we would have been looking at going over to Toulouse with extra pressure - not that there isn't enough on us. We managed to win there before and we have to bring that confidence with us but we'll enjoy this victory for the weekend."

Undoubtedly the foundation for the success was laid in the first-half performance when the home side played against a strong wind and turned at 6-6.

O'Driscoll admitted: "We laid the foundations (in the opening 40 minutes) for what was a good second-half performance. We knew it would have to be as Leicester are very much a power team. They set targets for themselves and get gain lines and that's where they exploit teams.

"We knew we were going to have to meet them on the gain line and put them back. We managed to do that for the most part."

He conceded the game had a certain resonance for Shane Jennings and Leo Cullen, both of whom who had spent time at Welford Road in recent seasons before returning to their roots.

"They (Cullen and Jennings) played extremely well. We said our performance today was for those two to make sure that on the first occasion of playing against old team-mates they got one over on them. We knew they weren't going to be lacking with their performances and that was very much the case. Everyone fronted up for them; it was a collective team performance."

He also acknowledged Felipe Contepomi's input into the overall success.

O'Driscoll smiled: "It's nicer playing with Felipe than against him. He was obviously an integral part of the victory, a man-of-the-match performance. Besides kicking his goals, he just controlled things well, and from a backline point of view he's such an attacking threat himself you feel there is always room when people are keeping an eye on him.

"It (the try) started with a great scrum. When you have the foundation, the ball out in front of you and execute plays as well as that, they are very hard to defend."

Cheika paid tribute to the din generated by a large, appreciative crowd (just under 19,000) at the RDS.

"I feel satisfied that we played to our potential. We were massively supported by our crowd. In games of this nature, every little extra you can get you'll take. The crowd were very, very vocal and gave us the adrenaline to keep going.

"In the past we might have gone for more things. This time we held a little back and played a bit more field position in the second half. The scrum was okay, our defence was solid and I think the most pleasing thing is the attitude after the match.

"The guys understand how difficult it is going to be . . . and that we need to reproduce that form and improve it if we are going to get through the group. I was very happy for them (Cullen and Jennings) and the rest of the pack. We are often questioned - again one performance don't maketh the man - but I have been very, very happy with them (the pack) all season, to be honest. Hopefully we can keep improving."

A promising start but there will be tougher days ahead, starting next Sunday in Toulouse.