Frustrated Slade urges Chiefs to live up to legend O’Driscoll’s billing as European favourites

vSandy Park, Pool 2, KO 1pm

HENRY SLADE admits Exeter have not yet lived up to Brian O’Driscoll’s billing in Europe. Lions legend O’Driscoll installed Chiefs as favourites with Leinster and Saracens for this season’s Champions Cup.

But a third of the way through the pool stages Exeter have yet to win a game

– and host Gloucester today knowing they can’t afford another blank. “It’s been very frustrating,” admitted Slade, now established as England’s first-choice outside-centre.

“We set ourselves a goal of wanting to do really well, of really attacking Europe and we feel we’ve sold ourselves a little bit short. “It’s not yet do or die as there’s still plenty of points to be had, but we know how important it is to get a win this weekend, especially being at home as well.”

Exeter are bottom of Pool 2 having started with a home draw with Munster and an away loss to Castres. Last week they lost at Harlequins, their first league defeat of the campaign. Chiefs are targeting an improvement in their breakdown work against a Gloucester side which welcomes back Matt Banahan, Tom Hudson and Henry Trinder (above) and gives a full debut to hooker Jaco Visagie.