OF THE WORLD

Exeter’s amazing European triumph has eased the agony of THAT 2019 World Cup final defeat

HENRY SLADE had seen it all before but this time felt different. Very different.

The podium being hastily built on halfway, the trophy placed on its stand, the confetti guns locked and loaded ready to shower the winners.

In Japan he watched South Africa lift the World Cup feeling pain he thought would last a lifetime.

Eleve Eleven months on it was him dr drenched in bubbly, him we wearing the medal. Exete Exeter did not trudge disco disconsolately past the E European Champions Cup, they picked it up and to took it home.

“It “It’s been an unreal year,” said the England cent centre. “That World Cup final was w an unbelievable experie experience but a massive di disappointment. sapp I was thinkin thinking before this game winning here would make me feel way better. It does. It’s the next best thing.”

That night in Yokohama he was the player tackled for the turnover which brought the tr y which sealed England’s fate.

At Ashton Gate in Bristol the crucial score belonged to him. “I think back to being a kid watching this tournament and wanting to be in it one day,” added Slade, after Exeter held ld on with 14 men to complete a fairy tale rise from junior rugby to European champions.

“To go and win it is such a special feeling. g. We’ve had so much h disappointment in finals s in the last few years.”

In the Premiership p showpiece yes, beaten n three times in four r years, but in Europe this s was their first time beyond the quarter-finals, only their 46th match in th e tournam ent. Compare that to the previous two winners.

Saracens boast 106 appearances, Leinster 175.

No wonder Sam Simmonds, Europe’s top try scorer, looked overwhelmed to be named player of the year. “This just doesn’t happen to people like us,” he said, wrapping an arm round his captain and man-of-the-match, younger brother Joe.

They were the lucky two, siblings able to share their greatest rugby day. Covid restrictions put paid to the rest. “Not having our families here to share such an achi e v ement was the cruellest thing,” said boss Rob Baxter, who emerged from an emotional call with wife Jo to admit “I’m a bit all over the place”.

At times so were his team. Having bossed the first quarter to lead 14-0 they let Finn Russell into the contest and nearly paid for it. Twice he put Simon Zebo in for tries but chanced his arm once too often and Jack Nowell intercepted and released Slade for his redemption try.

E xet er sti l l had a storm to weather, as Racing pulled back to within a point with eight minutes left and Thomas Francis in the bin. But a team that has s spent all but 10 years in th the lower leagues se secured club rugby’s bigg gest prize with captain Jo Joe’s last-gasp kick.