Exeter Chiefs were down 19-10 at the break in the Pool 3 Champions Cup clash, but a tremendous second-half display saw the hosts fight back to claim a 32-24 win against Munster Rugby to remain unbeaten in this year’s competition.
Slade was key as he kicked three conversions, two penalties and intercepted the ball to run the length of the pitch for a 78th-minute bonus-point try for a personal total of 17, while the hosts' three other tries came courtesy of hooker Dan Frost and replacements Ross Vintcent and Jack Dunne.
Munster themselves crossed four times via wing Calvin Nash, flanker Tom Ahern, centre Antoine Frisch and full-back Shane Daly.
In an exciting first half, Munster Rugby scored three of their tries with the creativity of the half-back pairing of scrum-half Craig Casey and fly-half Jack Crowley key.
Casey made Nash’s try with a stunning long-range pass, while Crowley sent Ahern away down the wing with a delightful kick for the travelling side’s second score, Frisch adding the third.
Exeter Chiefs could only respond with a single converted try from Frost and a Slade penalty, leaving them well adrift at the break.
Whilst Exeter Chiefs were on top in the early part of the second period, they could only manage another penalty before Daly went in on the wing to send Munster Rugby further clear.
But after a two-minute salvo, the hosts found themselves in the lead.
They first got back over with replacement flanker Ross Vintcent forcing himself over in the 62nd minute before the game was flipped on its head when Dunne successfully chased down a kick to go over just two minutes later.
As much as Munster Rugby huffed and puffed they couldn’t find a way to retake the lead, and Slade killed the game off with his deserved late try.
Exeter Chiefs will face Glasgow Warriors and Aviron Bayonnais in their final two Pool 3 games in January, while Munster Rugby will travel to RC Toulon before hosting Northampton Saints.
Scorers:
Exeter Chiefs: Tries: Dan Frost, Ross Vintcent, Jack Dunne, Henry Slade. Conversions: Henry Slade (3). Penalties: Henry Slade (2).
Munster Rugby: Tries: Calvin Nash, Tom Ahern, Antoine Frisch, Shane Daly. Conversions: Jack Crowley (2).
Teams
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Lewis Pearson, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 4 Rusi Tuima, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Scott Sio. Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Jack Dunne, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Rory O’Loughlin.
Munster Rugby: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Seán O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Gavin Coombes, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman. Replacements: 16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Brian Gleeson, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Ben O’Connor.
