Exeter can put ‘terrible’ season behind us – Slade

When Henry Slade recalls Exeter’s 2024-25 season, “there’s no getting way from it – it was terrible.”

The England center is one of three players currently playing for the Chiefs and winning the 2020 Premiership and European Champions Cup.

He also experienced the lows of last season, which was a nadir in Exeter’s 15 years as a top-flight side.

The Chiefs never left the bottom two, and they only managed to stay there for a few weeks in December, aside from the first week of the campaign.

With only four league victories coming in, they finished second abroad and were frequently humiliated in Europe.

According to Slade, “We didn’t know which hole to plug because there were so many things going wrong and we didn’t really know where to go.”

As a result of the rejig, long-serving coaches Dave Walder took on the duties of backs coach and director of rugby Rob Baxter took on a more hands-on position with the side.

Dave has arrived, and he has been fantastic, Slade said.

He has a unique voice, a unique approach to things, and many fresh ideas. I believe that has caused a lot of people to become wary.

We didn’t really see a lot of it at the end of last year because he arrived with two or three weeks to go and couldn’t change too much, he said.

However, he has altered our entire playing style and calling structure, which is exciting.

Important players like Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins, England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, veteran back Olly Woodburn, and veteran back Olly Woodburn all missed significant chunks of the campaign, which Exeter’s squad suffered from last year, twofold: a lack of experience and injuries.

Slade believes that this led to young players having to practice on the job, which will be beneficial in the long run.

“I feel like the younger lads are going to be in a much better place now because they’ve been chucked in the deep end a bit,” he said.

You don’t want to be there, because they are aware of what it’s like to be there. We’re attempting to talk to some of the lads about what it takes to return to the top because it’s a terrible place to be.

I realize it sounds silly, but it starts with little things like making sure everyone arrives on time for things, making sure things are in order, and making sure things are in good shape.

Over the summer, Exeter have made an effort to develop their squad.

Len Ikitau, the Australia centre, has joined Super Rugby’s Brumbies alongside Wallabies team-mate Tom Hooper.

After spending a year in France, Italy’s Stephen Varney returns to Prem Rugby, while Joseph Dweba, Julian Heaven, and Andrea Zambonin, an international, further strengthen the pack.

Slade is excited about the possibility of playing alongside Ikitau, who opened Australia’s three Test matches for the British and Irish Lions this summer and is regarded as one of the most exciting rugby players in the world.

“He’s been on fire, hasn’t he,” he says. Len and I are a really fun team, Slade said.

It’s a really positive step from the club to bring someone like that over, and for the league as a whole, as I’ve seen of him over the past few years.

I’m eager to play with him, observe his behavior off and on the field, and sample a beer.