History in the making

By Mark Stevens

History was made as three Exeter Chiefs players featured in an England match-day squad for the first time.

Geoff Parling and Henry Slade both started for Stuart Lancaster’s side, whilst Luke Cowan-Dickie came off the bench as the hosts overcame France 19-14 in their opening QBE International at Twickenham.

Tries from wingers Anthony Watson (2) and Jonny May were the highlights for England, whose remaining points came courtesy of two conversions from fly-half Owen Farrell.

In reply, the French - who caused Lancaster’s side no end of problems up front - replied with a second half try from Fulgence Ouedraogo and three penalties from Morgan Parra.

For Slade (pictured) and Cowan-Dickie, however, it was a night to remember as they celebrated making their senior debuts. Both are hopeful that they - along with club-mates Parling and Jack Nowell - will make Lancaster’s final 31-man squad for this autumn’s Rugby World Cup.

Cornishman Nowell - who featured heavily during England’s Six Nations campaign earlier in the year - is expected to play some part when England travel to Paris next Saturday in the second of their three warm-up fixtures.

Much of the talk pre-match was of Slade and fellow debutant Sam Burgess, who who was making his international union debut just 10 months after leaving league and the 26-year-old made his presence felt with some crunching hits at inside centre.

Both received glowing tributes from Lancaster at the final whistle, whilst Slade was singled out for special mention by England’s World Cup winning coach of 2003, Sir Clive Woodward, who said: “The biggest plus was the world class finishing of Anthony Watson and the all-round game of Henry Slade, who has surely booked his place in the final 31. He is a very talented, calm, clever footballer and looked entirely at home in the Test arena. He is a major find and can do an invaluable job covering centre and fly-half.”