Alesana Tuilagi was in fine form for the Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Saturday © Getty Images

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Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill paid tribute to his side's set-piece after Saturday's 48-6 demolition of a hapless Leeds Carnegie side at Welford Road.

The reigning champions bounced back from their dismal capitulation against London Wasps the week before by running in eight tries in total, with Alesana Tuilagi helping himself to a brace and his brother Manu, Tom Croft, Scott Hamilton, Thomas Waldrom, Matt Smith and George Skivington all scoring one apiece.

"I thought the whole performance was based on a really good set-piece. Our scrum and our line-out was outstanding," Cockerill said. "The scrum was a really good foundation while our ball control was better. There were eight tries in the end. You take a bonus point win and move on.

"We have had a lot of criticism chucked our way and we have just tried to keep our own counsel. Our injury rate is not great but we have a good squad and a good spirit which you saw today."

Cockerill was forced to pick Billy Twelvetrees at No.10 because of the unavailability of injured duo Toby Flood and Jeremy Staunton. Twelvetrees turned in a commanding display at flh-half and converted four of the eight tries in what were blustery conditions. Cockerill, though, was reluctant to heap too much praise on the 21-year-old.

"He is work in progress. Billy has enough pressure on his plate. We have to be very careful with a young player that we bring him into the side and give him the opportunity to play and learn the game and not be under the spotlight so much," he said. "Today he did some fantastic things but we have to work on goal-kicking and a few things but he knows that."

Meanwhile, Leeds boss Neil Back was quick to concede that his side had been comprehensively outfought and outthought.

"We were second best today. Leicester were sharper and we are very disappointed," said the former England flanker. "We didn't take our opportunities when they presented themselves." Back also refused to attach any great significance to winger Lee Blackett's disallowed try, which came at a time when Leeds were just six points down.

"It wasn't a try because it wasn't given. If we had a video referee, it would have been given but that was not the reason we lost today," he said. "We made too many errors and missed too many one-on-one tackles and you can't do that in the Premiership."