Slade made Exeter believe in final return – BaxterImage source, ShutterstockImage caption, Henry Slade is the Prem’s top points scorer this seasonByBrent Pilnick, BBC Sport England and Sophie Hurcom, BBC Sport EnglandPublished45 minutes agoExeter boss Rob Baxter says Henry Slade’s leadership has been key to his side reaching the Prem final.The 33-year-old England centre has been impressive in recent weeks – leading Baxter to describe him as in “world class form”.
Slade was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on in the first half of their semi-final at Bath on Saturday.
But he returned to help orchestrate a historic fightback as the Chiefs overturned a 26-10 deficit to win 27-26 and become the first third-placed side to make a Prem final.
“Our most experienced player did the stupidest thing on the field on the day, really,” Baxter told BBC Sport.
“Because even he knew as soon as he did it – you can see him almost go ‘oh how have I done that, what have I done’ when he snapped the ball out of his hands.
“But he’s been great and he talks really well.
“When you’ve been there, you understand you can do things, when you’ve come from behind before you understand you can do things, when you’ve won Premiership finals you understand you can do it, you don’t limit yourself from what you can achieve.
“I think he’s just helping the lads believe that as well.”
