Straight-talking Eddie puts Slade in the picture
HENRY Slade reckons stinging comments from Eddie Jones have only hardened his resolve to break into England’s starting line-up.
Gifted playmaker Slade is close to recapturing top form for Exeter at the end of a difficult year, one in which he made a swifter than expected return from a broken leg, only to be ordered by Jones to sharpen his footwork, defence and speed.
The versatile Plymothian has taken that advice on board, though, and, after featuring against Fiji and Argentina in November, insists all his energies are now channelled into becoming a world-class performer for Exeter and England. Slade told The Rugby
Paper: “It surprised me how blunt Eddie was and sometimes it’s hard to hear, but you’ve got to listen to your coaches.
“Eddie wants to make my main strengths stronger, like footwork and defence, and to try and get them up to world-class standards.
“He wants me to keep working on my pace and things like that, which are key to how he wants England’s backs to play.
“He tells you straight and doesn’t beat around the bush, so you know where you stand with him and I want to stake a claim for the Six Nations.”
Slade’s ability to play right across the backline could be viewed as a hindrance but for now he prefers to take a pragmatic view.
“England’s attack is going really well and we’ve got threats all over the park,” Slade said.
“We’ve got distributors, organisers, quick boys and strong lads, so there’s a good balance of skill-sets and leaders there.
“Ideally I’d like to play 10 or 12, but Eddie’s picked me on the bench covering quite a few positions, which is a positive. But whatever I can do to help the team I’m happy with and if that helps my inclusion in the matchday 23, that’s great.”
Slade has the perfect chance to underline his Six Nations credentials in demanding Christmas and New Year fixtures.
Exeter face Leicester at Sandy Park this Saturday, followed by visits to fellow title-chasers Bath and European Champions Cup winners Saracens.
Slade added: “It’s a tough period but we’re more comfortable in ourselves now and confident we can get the job done.” Meanwhile, after signing a new three-year contract with Exeter in July, Slade insists he will not be replacing George Ford at Bath.
“Nothing in it,” he added. “All I want to do is push on here at Exeter.”
With Slade staying put, Bath lock Dave Attwood fears speculation surrounding Ford’s future is becoming a distraction.
He told TRP: “It has been a bit of a sideshow and it’s not a nice situation when every 20 seconds someone’s asking about your future.
“Nothing is clear one way or the other yet and at the minute George’s playing with us, and we’re more than happy with that.
“It’s not affecting his form but we hope it resolves itself, not just from our point of view but from his side as well.”