“Most players don’t like playing in a pair of boots they haven’t worn before, but I didn’t really have much choice because my other ones were trashed, so I just gave them a go today and thankfully the result went our way.”

Reliving his winning kick, the former Morpeth and Alnwick player said: “It’s just the same routine as all kicks, but 52 metres out and with a crosswind I knew I had to put a bit more leg in to it, which was a consideration.

“There was only 30 seconds on the clock so I had to go for it, it just wasn’t an option to go for the line out. I gave it a good whack and I knew because of the wind I had to aim it left. I was worried at one point that I’d hit it too well because it seemed to be holding its line rather than swerving in, but the wind just got hold of it and brought it round.”

Assessing the game as a whole, he said: “It was scrappy in parts, and there were chunks of the game where each side was dominant, so the possession and territory stats much be pretty even.

“Leicester are one of the best sides in Europe so we’re pleased with today, but it makes us even more angry about games like last week at Harlequins and some of the others we’ve lost, because we know we’re capable of so much better.

“We as players have to be honest about the reasons why we aren’t doing it every week, why we seem to be up for the big games and perhaps not as fired-up for the rest. It has to be addressed, and we’re adamant we’ll sort it out because it’s ruining our season.”

Having been named in the England squad this week, unlike his Leicester counterpart Andy Goode, Flood said: “I’m not going to deny that I was surprised to see Andy omitted from the squad. He’s a talented player but it’s not my decision to make, so if I’d been left out I’d have to hold my hands up and say I’ve not been playing well enough to be selected.

“I’m massively pleased to be involved at that level, but the most important thing now is to keep my head down because we have to big European games with Newcastle to try and make the quarter finals.”

Joined in the England squad by fellow young fly half Shane Geraghty, Flood revealed: “I know Shane extremely well, so it’s good to be there with him.

“I roomed with him for a month during the Under-21s World Cup in Argentina, and his housemates Stuart Mackie and Topsy Ojo are also very good mates of mine. I know him inside out and we have the same juvenile sense of humour, so it should be good fun when the time comes to meet up with England.”