The English outfit top Pool 5 after winning both their opening games, but they are only three points ahead of two-time winners Cardiff Blues, whom they defeated 14-11 in Wales last weekend.

“It’s great for this squad,” Murphy told the Tigers’ website. “I said people would question the selection [for the Cardiff game] and it was a case of circle the wagons and see what we’ve got in this group.

“Discipline was not as good as I would like and the breakdown could be better, but you cannot question the heart, because the guys showed it in abundance.”

Murphy – who won the European Cup twice with Leicester as a player – highlighted his side’s gritty performance in order to remain unbeaten in this season’s Challenge Cup.

“I thought our defence was exemplary,” said the ex-Ireland winger. “At times they really played well and exposed us, and they kicked well, but we had some really good defence.

“That Sam Costelow last-gasp defence was just enough to keep out that late chance, but I thought it was indicative of our performance as a whole.

“It wasn’t pretty at times, but it was gritty and for a young group to show that, I was really proud of the performance.”

Leicester Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy has warned his side that they will need to become more disciplined if they are to progress to the knockout stages in their first season in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.