Every angle of New Zealand’s Ben Lam obliterating 56-cap England international
It is probably best for England and Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade if he does not go on Montpellier’s Instagram page this week.
The Top 14 outfit might have crashed out of the Heineken Champions Cup at Sandy Park on Sunday due to try count following an epic 32-32 draw after extra time, but at least they took a parting shot. That shot was directed at the 56-cap England international, who was nothing more than a speed bump for their winger Ben Lam earlier in the match.
The former New Zealand Sevens representative made very light work of the outside centre in the first half in the build up to Vincent Rattez’s try, which gave the visitors a 12-0 lead at that point. Then again, the Englishman is not the first player to have a tough time stopping the 114kg winger.
Montpellier have cruelly provided every angle of the carry, which would not be good viewing for Slade. Fortunately for him, he had the last laugh as the Chiefs progressed past the French champions. The challenges do not get any easier for them though this week, as they host the reigning United Rugby Championship winners the Stormers this Saturday in the quarter finals, who triumphed over Harlequins 32-18 in their round of 16 encounter. Looking ahead to that match, Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “I know not many people will give us a chance against them.
“They dealt with Harlequins pretty easily (on Saturday) and Harlequins dealt with us pretty easily two weeks ago, so that’s it – game over.
“But that is quite a nice place to start from for us. We are not going to physically change much this week. We have just got to get our emotional batteries recharged.”
Take a look at Lam’s carry against Slade in the build up to Rattez’s try:
