Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann was delighted with his side's performance in his first game in charge as they beat Exeter 28-21.
Overcoming the reigning Premiership champions was some achievement from the Cherry and White as a late Jason Woodward try sealed victory.
After the match the former Lions boss couldn't hide his pleasure after his charges stood up and were counted at Kingsholm in a thrilling contest.
"I probably couldn’t ask for a better start and I’m grateful for that," the head coach told Gloucestershirelive.co.uk.
“We’re all in the game to enjoy it so when we saw him go over we were all high-fiving and celebrating.
“That’s why we play this game to experience the tense times in it but also enjoy the good times.
“You can’t take anything for granted but I’m so pleased with the guys, the character they showed and the effort that went into the game.
“We will enjoy the victory but it’s only week one so we definitely can’t get carried away.”
On his side's performance he singled out the players' spirit as they got off to a positive start under his tenure.
"We just hung in there even sometimes with not a lot of possession we hung in there so the defence was good," said Ackermann.
"Our set phase I felt was good, I think there were two scrum penalties – one at the beginning and one at the end. I think our lineout was good.
"I think there were opportunities we didn’t use but in general I’m very pleased. It’s nothing to do with tactics but just the effort and character that went in.
"You look at the game as a whole and it wasn’t the perfect game, there’s a list of work-ons for us to do but if we took 30 or 40 points tonight you have even more worries so it’s definitely a good base to build from and there was good stuff as well."
The post ‘That’s why we play this game’ – Ackermann appeared first on Planet Rugby.