England were not too far off - Slade

HENRY Slade believes England deserved more credit for their performances this autumn, insisting it was ‘small margins’ that prevented them from truly making their mark against the southern hemisphere’s elite.

- MARK STEVENS

Having lost in the dying embers to both New Zealand (24-22) and Australia (42-37) at the start of last month, a third defeat to world champions South Africa (2920) followed before they wrapped the series up with victory over Japan (59-14).

Slade – one of 17 players to be handed the new hybrid contracts by the RFU as part of the Men’s Professional Game Partnership – started all four games in England’s midfield alongside Ollie Lawrence, marking his return to competitive action following shoulder surgery in the summer.

It was, according to the man himself, an earlier return to duty than first envisaged. However, such is his proven talent and experience at the highest level, England head coach Steve Borthwick wasted little time in getting the Exeter Chiefs ace back into his starting XV.

“It’s always nice to feel you’re a valued player in the eyes of the coach,” said Slade. “It gives you that bit of confidence that you can then take into both training and matches itself.

“Steve and I talked before and after the operation about the plan of when I would get back and I knew it would be touch-and-go as to exactly when. All I could do was get my head down, work hard with the physios and the conditioners, and see where I would get to.

“Initially, my return date was going to be the Japan game, so to get back for a Chiefs game, then the other three England games as well, it all worked out really well.”