ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022

Potential positional switch for Henry Slade

With England fly-halves coming in ten to the dozen currently, one thing England are not desperate for is another number ten.

ADVERTISEMENT

This past weekend Exeter had their play-off hopes knocked back by a strong Saracens performance, led by England captain Owen Farrell. A noticeable switch to the Exeter line up was seeing Joe Simmonds dropped to the bench, in favour of Henry Slade moving into the fly-half role.

Although often used as a playmaking centre, particularly in the national side, Slade has not pulled on the ten shirt for Exeter since April 2017 when they won away to Harlequins.

Andy Goode, the former England fly-half has been speaking to Rugbypass, giving his thoughts on this positional switch:

andy goode

“It’s an interesting one,” he opened. “When they ultimately had their success, Joe Simmonds was captain and fly-half and playing unbelievably well. Now this year early on his form wasn’t great. He got dropped and Harvey Skinner played ten a fair bit. I played against Slade at ten years ago when he was first bursting onto the scene and we played Exeter against Wasps at our place and I was like, ‘God, that is some player at ten’. 

“It was around him and (Gareth) Steenson at ten and they gave him a load of goes and it didn’t really work as Steenson was the ten and the kicker and all this stuff. They fitted him into the centre because he is a bit of a flair player as well, so perhaps didn’t first the mould of an Owen Farrell type ten that can lead a team. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“Henry Slade had his moments at the weekend of brilliance but he is not a controlling ten, so that is why he went away from it and made himself into an unbelievable centre, but I always enjoy watching him play at ten. The reasons behind it, who knows? Exeter are not at it as a team so maybe they are trying to look at some fixes around trying different combinations to try and find that magic ingredient. 

“I know (Tom) Hendrickson and (Ian) Whitten played in the centres, was it about the power of those two? I think it possibly was, getting two big lumpy centres in there. (Saracens’ Nick) Tompkins is a real handful to deal with. But yeah, it was a really interesting selection.

“Exeter have two games left, Bristol away and at home to Harlequins. They can still get ten points, Rob Baxter said after the game, and a lot of those teams in the middle are playing each other as well. They can still make the playoffs. Will they make it? They have got to get ten points to do it because it is out of their hands.” 

Related Articles

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    Ellis Genge puts on his boxing gloves ready...

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    RFU make decision on transgender players...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 13 HOURS AGO

    Watch: Antoine Dupont outrageous no-look pass sets up Toulouse try

  • 14 HOURS AGO

    Toulouse Rugby's version of 'total football' try

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    The latest member of the Tuilagi Rugby dynasty dominates in the Top 14 promotion play-off

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Springbok winger with the most athletic non-try of the season

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Marcos Kremer shown red card for reckless shot on Finn Russell

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Heroic tackle from Spanish 7s player goes viral

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    No sanction handed down by SANZAAR for tackle that left Reds player with a fractured neck

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Barbarians Vs World XV highlights

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

View All

Funnies

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Watch: Savagely cruel bounce see’s Canada U20 concede brutal try

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    "Hey Manie oh ah I wanna know if I can block that kick" – Munster's hilarious new song

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Munster Rugby loving life in Cape Town Following URC Final Victory

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

View All

Amateur

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Legendary playmaker announces new move

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Horrific footage has emerged of Mohamed Haouas attack on wife

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    French international receives prison sentence for attack on wife

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

View All