Some relief for England but still no satisfaction for a winless Exeter. If the sight of Henry Slade proving his fitness before the opening stanza of the Autumn Nations Series on Saturday was a boost for the national head coach, Steve Borthwick, there was only more pain for the out‑of‑sorts Chiefs as they slumped to a club‑record sixth successive league defeat.
Slade, playing his first game since mid-July after shoulder surgery, was busy on both sides of the ball and played 54 minutes before being whistled ashore. England are desperate to pick him in their midfield against New Zealand if possible and the chances of him performing some kind of role against the All Blacks have duly been enhanced.
