Slade learns from Toulon test

By Mark Stevens

Fly-half Henry Slade believes Exeter have shown they can compete with the elite of European rugby and says the Chiefs will head to RC Toulon in the Heineken Cup this weekend in confident mood.

Just days after slipping to a narrow 14-9 defeat against the reigning champions at a packed Sandy Park, Rob Baxter's side are now bracing themselves for an equally testing assignment against the star-studded French outfit at the Stade Felix Mayol.

It's certainly a crucial fixture for both clubs, but more so the Chiefs who know that a victory across the Channel is a must if they are to harbour any lasting hopes of qualification out of Pool Two. Currently Toulon sit at the summit of the group on 10 points with Cardiff Blues next best on nine points and the Chiefs in third on seven points.

So, with the task ahead seemingly mapped out for the Chiefs, Slade insists he and his team-mates must build on Saturday's encouraging display and look to attack their more illustrious counterparts from the outset.

"I think we should be confident," Slade said. "We only got the one point here and obviously it's going to be a bit harder down there, but if we can get the win then we're back on track. Situations like this you learn from, and hopefully get better from. I'm sure all the boys would say that we'll take a lot from it and move on."

Having led 9-8 at the break thanks to penalties from Slade and Gareth Steenson (2), the Chiefs were unable to push on in the second period and were downed by a penalty from Matt Giteau and a late Jonny Wilkinson drop-goal.

"It was a little bit frustrating, especially with going into half-time with the lead, we thought we had such a lot to give in the second half," added Slade. "We had ball but we couldn't do what we wanted with it. A lot of the game was played in our half, which is where the pressure finally told.

"At the end there, we might have just nicked it, but just didn't quite get there. It was a massive game which we'd been looking forward to for a long time. I think you saw it at the end there with the energy levels – the boys were out on their feet. It felt like it was so close, but we just couldn't quite get there."

For Slade, though, getting to tackle some of the biggest names in world rugby - including Wilkinson, his boyhood idol - was just another part of his development as a player.

The 20-year-old feature for almost an hour at the weekend, coming on as a replacement for fellow No.10 Steenson, who was unable to continue following a bone-crunching hit from French international Mathieu Basteraud.

It was quite an introduction for the Plymouth-born back, but one which he clearly savoured. He continued: "It was awesome to play against him [Wilkinson]. I've watched him for so many years, and being on the bench I didn't know when I was going to get on.
"I wasn't expecting to come on quite that early. It was a nice to get that much game-time, especially against a side like Toulon, in a situation like that. It doesn't really get much better. To get so long on the field and to play against a childhood hero, it was great. He had a bit of a tough game with the boot, but I'm sure it was just a one-off."

Now Slade - who was one of five Exeter players who helped England's Under-20s to Junior World Cup this summer - will be hoping for yet more exposure in the red-hot cauldron of Europe's top cup competition.