Trailing 24-7 after an hour at Pau on Saturday, the Pool 5 winners looked set for another French road trip in the last eight, but a converted try from Ben White and Tom Hardwick’s last-minute penalty clinched that all-important losing bonus point.

“We started poorly – we gave them 14 points very quickly – and I thought we looked a little shell-shocked,” Murphy told the Leicester website.

“From there, though, it was about getting the job done. We wanted something out of the game and we were aware of permutations around the bonus point.

“It was imperative we got back into the game and we did that well. We deserved something out of it – we got held up over the try-line, we had a couple of opportunities and didn’t take them.

“We'd like to be better, but to get the bonus point and a home quarter-final is just enough. We have an opportunity to fight another day in this competition.”

Murphy described the game as “an amazing learning experience for all the players” and believes the Challenge Cup has helped his squad’s development and confidence.

“We’ve given time to a lot of players in this competition and the guys have been putting their hands up,” added the two-time European Cup winner. “I’m proud of the way this side has gritted it out and got some good results.”

Leicester Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy believes his side have given themselves “an opportunity to fight another day” in the European Rugby Challenge Cup by sealing a home quarter-final against Castres Olympique.