Leicester returned to the pinnacle of European rugby after a two-year absence as they battled to a dramatic 16-13 opening round win at TOP 14 leaders Union Bordeaux-Bègles on Saturday.

Borthwick has urged his players to cherish their time playing on Europe’s grandest stage – comparing the standard of the competition with the international game.

“From my experience as a player and then from watching it, certainly when you get those big games, it starts being very close to Test match rugby,” he said.

“You start seeing the nature of it. I watched this from coaching for a number of years with England and I thought they were getting close to being like Test matches.

“That’s probably the best way I could describe the standard. It’s getting very close to being international rugby’s standard.”

Leicester will be keen to use the knowledge gained during last season’s European campaign as they go in search of a third Heineken Champions Cup title - they reached the final of the Challenge Cup before suffering a heartbreaking 18-17 defeat at the hands of Montpellier Hérault Rugby.

Despite the result, Borthwick believes the experience of a Twickenham Stadium finale will hold his side in good stead during this season’s competition:

“The pattern has shown that, when teams enter the Champions Cup, it takes a bit of experience because of the competition, the nature of it. It sometimes takes a year or two before they make that next step up within it, but, for us, it’s great to be in the competition.

“We had a taste of European competition last year in the Challenge Cup. Even though there were only 10,000 people allowed at Twickenham that day, it was a fantastic occasion. You want to be involved in great occasions.

“As a coach and, formerly, as a player, you want to be involved in big games. Leicester Tigers is a team that has historically been involved in big games. That’s ultimately where we want to be.”

Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick has likened the Heineken Champions Cup to international rugby as he prepares his troops for their Pool B contest with Irish province Connacht Rugby.