Night at the darts helped Slade & England double-top Ireland

HENRY SLADE has told how a team night out playing darts inspired England to hit the bullseye in Ireland.

Slade was the two-try match-winner in Dublin as England destroyed the Grand Slam champions with their best performance under Eddie Jones.

And now the Exeter star has revealed the team spirit behind the performance was forged on a bonding evening at Flight Club in central London.

“We had a room, played some darts, had a couple of drinks and had a real good time,” said Slade.

The event was arranged after Jones asked the squad if there was anything away from rugby they would like to do. They chose an evening on the oche.

“It’s a great way to get to know each other,” Slade explained. “You feel closer to the bloke next to you because you’ve shared experiences off the field.

“We didn’t tend to do that as much before, but now it’s like being back at school playing with your mates, who you genuinely want to do well for.”

The bonding session took place the night before Jones and his players flew to Portugal for a week-long training camp, then went straight to Ireland.

“I have to congratulate the senior players,” said Jones.

“They organised that night out and didn’t get into trouble – which isn’t always the case when you’ve 30 guys going out and having a drink. They wanted to go into the camp ready to go, have some stories to tell and have some togetherness.

“That’s where we’re going as a team. We believe that is so important.”

How fitting the tone for England’s win should be set by a perfect first-minute throw from Jamie George to Manu Tuilagi that Phil Taylor would have been proud to call his own. And that darts ace Slade should be spot on target with the two secondhalf tries that decided the contest.

Just how strong a team spirit was forged that night and in the days that followed in the Algarve was highlighted by Nathan Hughes.

He said when he came on as a second-half replacement the mood was buoyant.

“You could just hear from the boys around you that we weren’t going to lose,” he said. “The boys were all up for it. We enjoy each other’s company and that togetherness played a part.

“When Sladey scored his first try, we came in and said, ‘Boys are we enjoying this?’ Everyone looked at Owen (Farrell) and said, ‘Yes we are. Let’s step it up another level’.”