Chiefs get perfect Christmas present

By Mark Stevens
24/12/17

Henry Slade said he and his Exeter Chiefs team-mates were given the “perfect Christmas present” after they moved further in front at the top of the Aviva Premiership with victory over Northampton Saints.

Rob Baxter’s side stretched their lead at the summit to that of 11 points after they collected another full house in their 35-14 win.

Will Chudley, Sam Simmonds, Thomas Waldrom and Jack Yeandle all found their way over the whitewash with Gareth Steenson and Joe Simmonds adding the remainder of the visiting points.

In reply, Ahsee Tuala and Cobus Reinach added a try apiece for the Saints, both of which were converted by fly-half Piers Francis, but they were rare moments of joy for the Saints, who were playing their first league fixture since axing long-serving Director of Rugby, Jim Mallinder.

Helping to lead the charge for the Chiefs was Slade, who said: “It’s always very pleasing to come away anywhere in the Premiership and get five points. Franklin’s Gardens hasn’t been the most successful of places for us in the past, so it’s really nice to get the five points and it’s given us the perfect Christmas present.”

The victory was also the perfect pick-me-up for the English champions after they came into the game on the back of successive defeats to Leinster in the European Champions Cup.

“The coaches have tested us this week in terms of our mental approach come into the game,” explained the England international. “Obviously we were top by eight points coming into the game, so the challenge was there for us try and win the game, even when we knew we were going to still be top.

“You could see, though, that we turned up today and that our attitude was spot on. The first 20 minutes was really tough, but we really took it to them. You could see in the first half especially really took its toll on both teams, but in the end we managed to come through in the end.

“It was a hell of an effort from all the lads, especially the forwards, and to get the bonus point right at the end was very pleasing.”

The victory ensured Exeter not only enjoyed a decent bus trip back to the Westcountry, but gave them the perfect fillip ahead of their New Year’s Eve encounter at home to Leicester Tigers at a sold out Sandy Park.

Slade admits he is already looking forward to that contest, particularly as the Chiefs look to avenge their earlier 20-13 defeat by the Midlanders.

“We were really disappointed with how we went at Welford Road earlier in the season, we felt we didn’t really put our best game onto the pitch that day,” said Slade. “Coming back next week to Sandy Park, a sell-out crowd on New Year’s Eve, I think we’re all really excited to get back home and hopefully put on a show for the crowd.”