Dan Cole insists Leicester Tigers’ turnaround this season can be traced back to the return of Aaron Mauger.

After appearing in nine consecutive Aviva Premiership Rugby finals between 2005 and 2013, Leicester Tigers fans have had to watch the last two Twickenham showpieces pass them by.

For most clubs simply reaching the semi-finals – as Leicester have done in the last two campaigns – would have been reason to celebrate, but ten-time champions Tigers are no ordinary club.

The slip in form could be seen to coincide with Matt O’Connor’s departure as head coach to join Leinster back in 2013, with the club not filling the void – until now.

This season saw former centre Mauger return to Welford Road having played more than 50 times for the Tigers, and Cole insists his home town club haven’t looked back since.

“Mauger came in, he knew the club – playing here, and what he’s brought in, everyone’s brought bought into,” Cole said.

“The players that have been brought in – they’re good guys. He sets the mindset of the place and as players, you’ve always got that in your mind but at the same time you want to play your game."

“We had a bad year last year but we need a better thing to push it over the edge and with Mauger coming in, all the players realise that and we’re buying into that.”

Although excited at the prospects lying ahead for Cole, the prop will turn his attentions to England duty as the Six Nations begins.

As for teammate Tom Croft, he might have missed out on Eddie Jones’ new era, but the back rower insists he is simply concentrating on putting together an injury-free season.

“It’s been a year where I’ve had a few unfortunate injuries and I didn’t play as much as I wanted to so it’s nice to be back on the pitch,” said Croft, who sat out for nine months after seriously injuring his neck in April 2012 before missing almost all of the 2013-14 campaign with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament as well as a dislocated a shoulder to miss the last three months of last term.

“Once you’ve played for your country you obviously aspire to get back into the fray. After the last couple of years I’ve had, it’s really important to me to put in a full season. That was my goal as I came into this year."

“First and foremost is to stay injury free which if I can achieve come May it will be a successful season."

“We’ll see what happens, it’s exciting times for the country because it’s a brand new guy in front of a brand new backroom staff that he’s brought in as well so we’ll see what way he goes and it’ll be interesting to watch over the Six Nations to see how he shapes his team."

“It’s a nice four-year game plan going towards the next World Cup so we’ll see which way he takes it.”

Cole and Croft were speaking at a driving awareness course where they were marked on acceleration, braking and cornering – the three aspects measured by the Aviva Drive app, designed to help drivers save money on their car insurance premium.

They were also joined by clubmate Tom Youngs, with the hooker full of praise for the innovation, even if it did reveal some home truths.

“I did think I was a good driver but all my confidence has been shattered now,” Youngs said.

“I’m a terrible driver it turns out. Us men always think we’re good drivers, we pride ourselves on it."

“This time of the year with the roads being icy and slippery, it is all about being sensible and staying safe on the road."

“Obviously so many people do lose their lives and people’s lives are affected by accidents, which is horrendous so I think the Aviva Drive app is great.”

Aviva, proud sponsor of Premiership Rugby put the driving skills of Leicester Tigers trio Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and Tom Croft to the test – watch the film on Aviva’s Facebook page. Download the Aviva Drive app to test your driving skills and see if you could save money on your car insurance. Good Thinking from Aviva.