The 2024 Summer tour of Japan and New Zealand capped off a stunning season for England centre Henry Slade, following a league campaign with his beloved Exeter Chiefs. The playmaker was named Premiership Rugby Player of the Year for the 2023/24 season, following his rejuvenated return to form, having missed out on a place at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Slade rightfully returned to the England set-up for the 2024 Men’s Six Nations, having spearheaded the new-look Exeter squad with many match-winning performances.

“It was a really enjoyable season. For myself and for the whole of the Chiefs team, we started the season with a lot of things up in the air.” Slade said, in an exclusive interview with Ruck.

“There was a big turnaround in players from the season before. A lot of boys who left were seasoned, experienced players who’d been household names in not just Exeter, but in the whole of the country. Boys who had been at the club for a long time and had been part of the work, for as long as I’ve been there, (it was) everything I’ve known at the club.

“For those boys to leave a hole, it was daunting come the end of the season before, but as soon as we started the new (2023/24) season, all the new boys were in, and everyone’s working hard together and pulling in the same direction. Before you knew it, the games came around and we hit the ground running.”

Exeter witnessed the arrival of an assortment of exciting young talents throughout the 2023/24 Premiership season, with the fresh faces stepping up to fill the voids. Flying England wing Manny Feyi-Waboso and resilient Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins were amongst the brightest stand-outs, as Exeter embarked on their new era as a club.

Manny Feyi-Waboso’s Rise

“A few of the young boys really came through strong, you see the likes of Manny (Feyi-Waboso), bursting onto the England scene now, starting for England, coming from having not really played for Chiefs at all (in one season) is unbelievable.”

“I think he’s one of the young guys who’ve come through and shown real ability and character. Daf Jenkins, he’s our captain and he’s only 21. He’s an unbelievable young man and showed how he’ll be an incredible leader for many, many years. So all those experienced and great players, leaving was obviously sad for the club and sad for the boys. But in the long run for the Chiefs, I think we’re only going to get better and better.

“These young boys have had another year of experience. They’ve had a year in the league. Their bodies are a year older and a year stronger, I think if they get their heads down and work hard again like this last year, then it’s going to be a hugely exciting and hopefully successful year.”

Focussing the scope upon Manny Feyi-Waboso, the Exeter wing was called up into the England camp in red-hot form, and made his way out for a Test match debut in the 2024 Six Nations opener against Italy. Feyi-Waboso would go on to star in the remainder of Exeter’s domestic pursuits, before tearing up the Test match stage on tour against Eddie Jones’ Japan, and the revered All Blacks.

After the pre-match sparring contest surrounded itself in All Blacks wing Sevu Reece’s obliviousness to who Feyi-Waboso was, the 21-year-old has since made a name for himself in New Zealand, with Slade excited to see what is next from the flyer.

“He’s been awesome. But, he’ll tell you himself, that he’s got a lot to learn. He’s 21 years old, and everyone does at 21 every player, no matter how smart you are. He’s studying to be a doctor, so he’s got to be pretty smart.

“The best thing about him is he’s always willing to learn, always trying to get better every every day and every week. The thing you can’t take away from is actually how impressive he is as an athlete. He’s one of the most powerful, explosive guys I’ve ever seen on a rugby pitch. He’s 94 kilos and running through double tackles with two front row forwards every time.

“I think people just don’t understand how someone that small can be that strong and that powerful. I think he’s getting more and more confident with it, and he keeps trying to get his hands on the ball more and more, and just doing real damage wherever he carries the ball.

“If we can have another strong start to the year, like he did last year, then that’s going to be outstanding for us. He puts us on the front foot so many times, we get the ball in his hands, and hoping he stays all healthy and in good shape for us, then we’re going to have a great season, He’s going to be a big part of us doing that.

“I’m excited to see how he’s developed over the off-season and through pre-season. Because, he’s an unbelievable talent. That’s what he did last year, and that’s what got him into English squad. So he can keep doing more of the same. Who knows how good he can be!”

Exeter’s Influence on England

It is certainly an exciting time for the future of both Exeter and England, with the two sides becoming intertwined with a couple of Summer camp call-ups. Back before Borthwick penned in his touring squad for the trip to Japan and New Zealand, the Exeter duo of lock Rusi Tuima and back row Greg Fisilau arrived at the Pennyhill Park training camp for the first time.

Whilst the two forwards did not make the cut for the tour, Slade was impressed from what his Chiefs teammates brought to the England camp, and is hopeful for more in the future.

“They did really well when they came into camp. Some people struggle when they come into camp and they are quite shy, quiet and reserved. I think the boys bought in really well. Both of them are fairly shy, but I think the way they took everything in their stride, came into camp, and were confident.

“They trained really well, because they’re really, really good players. They both worked incredibly hard on the pitch, and they got some great skills and have been awesome players for us at Chiefs. So they got a taste of what it’s like and what it could be (with England). so I think that’s probably made them even hungrier.

“So, like Manny, if they get their heads down and work hard, I know they have been this preseason, but when it gets into the season, and they get a couple of good games under their belt. The Autumn internationals aren’t long around the corner, they can be putting their hands up a selection for that.

“I know that’ll be a big carrot for them. They did really well when they came in the summer. Another year older, another year stronger for that, I think it’ll be exciting first few games for them to try and put their hands up.”

Looking Ahead: Autumn Internationals

Slade cast his focus to the upcoming Autumn Internationals. Always an exciting time within the Test match landscape, England are hosting four exhilarating fixtures at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in back-to-back November weekends. England take on the Australia, South Africa and Japan, in the coming months, but only after the side has endured a reunion with New Zealand.

Slade is eagerly anticipating another opportunity to take on the All Blacks, after England lost two consecutive Tests against Scott Robertson’s side back in July. England were edged out by a single point in Dunedin, before falling victim to the 30-year rule of All Black dominance in Auckland’s Eden Park. Slade is excited for another crack at the All Blacks, to make amends for the two defeats from the past Summer.

“We said, we (England) were frustrated by the results in the Summer. It could have easily gone another way, but that’s rugby, you can’t win them all, and things happen like that. So we’re excited to have the New Zealand team come back to Twickenham, it’s been a long time since they’ve been here.

“We’re having world class sided come to Twickenham, we’ve got some great teams coming this Autumn. So, looking forward to the challenge with New Zealand first up. Who better to start against?”

Defensive Changes and the Blitz

Whilst the All Blacks bring an ever-present attacking threat up to the Northern Hemisphere, it could be an alteration to England’s defensive strategy that plays to their favour come the November Tests. England’s previous defence coach Felix Jones incorporated the high-pressing blitz method to the team, but the Irishman has since quit Steve Borthwick’s back-room staff.

This could well see an alteration to England’s defensive approach, once a new coordinator is introduced under Borthwick’s watch. Frustratingly for Slade, Exeter Chiefs use a similar blitz defence as the England team, with Slade not jumping at the thought of having to learn a fresh England approved playbook in the coming months.

Slade spoke to the media at the Premiership Rugby launch event at Twickenham, and addressed how the change of staff could bring about a fortuitous element of surprise.

“I really enjoyed working with Felix. I thought he’s a really, really good coach. We defend very similar Exeter and England. So it will be interesting to see what that looks like going forward. Obviously, we don’t know who’s coming in, but you want to be involved as a player anytime you can. It was a bit of a shock, him leaving. But everyone’s got their reasons, I guess, crack on and make the best with what we’ve got.”

“I do really enjoy defending like that (blitz). I think it’s incredibly aggressive and assertive way of defending as a team. If we can keep defending like that, then I’ll be really happy.”

“When a coaching set up, changes, as a team, you don’t really know how the other team are going to play. You don’t know whether they’re going to stick to what they did, or whether the new coaches coming in are going to change things. I guess they’ll just be assuming we’re going to carry on the way we’re doing, and concentrating on themselves more, as we did in the summer. Try to get our own things right.

“Because, we could think things and try to predict what we thought was coming, but I never knew for sure. So we did a lot of prep in terms of what may come in, but it mostly was worrying about all we could control, which is what we’re doing. I assume they are doing the same.”

Navigating Change and a New Chapter

Slade echoed the thoughts of his England teammate George Furbank, in how nobody expected the double coaching departures from Borthwick’s camp this past Summer. Whilst the future of Kevin Sinfield remains up in the air, defence coach Felix Jones and head of strength & conditioning Aled Walters stepped away from the set-up, much to the surprise of the players, with Slade included.

“I was surprised. I thought the camp actually felt and seemed pretty settled when we were in there. Obviously he (Walters) has ambitions to coach Ireland, and fair enough Yeah, it was very out of the blue, well, it seemed out of the blue for us. There is going to be a lot of changes, I’m sure Steve and coaches will get a good team in place to get the boys going forward.”

“As players, there’s only so much we can do. We’re going to just work, worry about ourselves, what we’re doing day to day, and I’ve got to get myself back fit with an opportunity to be involved in the Autumn. The coaching team will do what they would do, and I’m sure they’ll put something good together.”

Borthwick has already appointed a new coach to the strength and conditioning squad, with former Gloucester coach Dan Tobin taking up the residency at Pennyhill Park. Who the new defensive lead will be is yet to be known, but Slade will certainly be entering a new-look England camp ahead of the Autumn Internationals.

Recovering from Injury and Back to the Field

Slade is currently on the mend from acute shoulder surgery, having torn the underside of the joint in the 2024 Six Nations. The injury was tolerable for the remainder of the season but has since worsened over time, with Slade maximising the off-season to get the well-earned rest and make a full recovery from the tear. The centre explained how the issue arose, as he attempted to halt Duhan van der Merwe’s wonder-try for Scotland last March.

“I’m going well, not in a sling. I only had the operation four or five weeks ago. So considering that, I think I’m in pretty good shape. It’s a 14 to 16-week injury, they say normally. I’m pushing to try and get that down, hopefully to around 12 weeks. So I’m in week five now. So, I’m hoping to get back a game or two before the autumn.”

“It was actually against Scotland in the Six Nations. I did it diving to tackle Duhan van der Merwe, when he scored that try, when he ran the length. I dived, landed on my shoulder and rip around the bottom. Then another tackle in the second half, I did the same sort of thing. And then just since then, it was just playing up every week any sort of any sort of tackle.”

“I did a very similar thing to my left shoulder a couple of years before, but I actually played with that for about four or five years. So after that, I was like, it’s not going to get better, better get it sorted.”

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