Aviva Premiership: Henry Slade stars as Exeter Chiefs defeat Gloucester at Kingsholm
Last Updated: 20/09/14 7:44am
Exeter head coach Rob Baxter heaped praise on Henry Slade after the England hopeful helped the Chiefs record a 25-22 victory over Gloucester at Kingsholm.
Playing in the centres, the 21-year-old kicked two long-range penalties as Exeter won on their travels to push themselves to the top of the Aviva Premiership table.
Slade appears to be a strong candidate to be selected in England head coach Stuart Lancaster's elite player squad ahead of the autumn Tests, and Exeter are clearly benefiting from his all-round excellence.
At this level, to concede that many penalties in our own half to a kicker of Gareth Steenson's quality, we are making a rod for our own back.
David Humphreys
"There is no secret with Henry," Baxter said.
"He is a good rugby player. We could probably pick him anywhere across the back-line and he would do a great job for us.
"He is looking more and more comfortable. His best attribute is that he is tough mentally and physically - he likes getting stuck in and he is very competitive.
"He just wants to be out on the pitch playing, and that is what is going to drive him all the way if he chooses to.
"If he stays grounded and works as hard as he is working now, it is going to be up to us to help him be the best player he can be. If we do that, I am sure he will be very successful."
Fly-half Gareth Steenson landed four penalties and converted flanker Ben White's first-half try as Exeter climbed one point above unbeaten trio Saracens, Bath and Leicester.
Dominated
Gloucester dominated early on through tries from wing Jonny May and prop Dan Murphy, but they handed Steenson and Slade regular opportunities to punish them, which they gratefully accepted.
The Cherry and Whites have so far leaked an average of 35 points and four tries per game during new rugby director David Humphreys' reign, although it is early days for a new-look squad.
They did pick up a losing bonus point for their efforts thanks to flanker Sione Kalamafoni's try.
"It is disappointing," Humphries said.
"We started the game very well, then the second part of the first-half we lost control because we didn't get our set-piece to function and the penalty count went against us.
"At this level, to concede that many penalties in our own half to a kicker of Gareth Steenson's quality, we are making a rod for our own back.
"The reason we lost the game was because of our own indiscipline.
"We looked dangerous in attack, but in games that tight at this level, it is the small things, and we didn't have accuracy around the set-piece."