Struggling Exeter Chiefs start Henry Slade after England release

England outside centre Henry Slade will make his first appearance of the season as Exeter Chiefs look to end their worst start to a Premiership season when Harlequins visit Sandy Park on Sunday afternoon.

Slade has been given special permission from England coach Steve Borthwick to play in the game after missing the start of the new season after having a shoulder operation after the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand.

After being released from their camp in Spain, he will have the chance to prove his fitness ahead of England’s opening clash of their Autumn Nations Series campaign against the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday week.

Slade will partner Will Rigg in the midfield, with Olly Woodburn, who had been standing in for him, moving back out to the wing with Paul Brown-Bampoe and Josh Hodge rounding out the back three.

The Chiefs, who have lost their opening five games, including a reverse against Newcastle Falcons, who ended a 25-game winless run last time and a sixth loss, will set a new club record for their longest losing run in the top-flight.

“No single player is a cure-all to everything, and you don’t suddenly put one player in and win every game, but I think without doubt when you see how we lost a couple of games this season.

“I’m particularly talking about our two home games – you do kind of think it wouldn’t have taken much more authority or calmness on the field for those to have been not comfortable, but they could have easily turned our way.

“So, when you look at it that way, that obviously puts a big difference on the perspective of the season,” admitted Chiefs boss Rob Baxter, who has rung the changes in an effort to end their winless streak.

Scott Sio is named captain, while Richard Capstick moves alongside Franco Molina in the second row with Jacques Vermeulen returning from injury while Will Becconsall starts at scrum half for the first time this season.

Exeter: Josh Hodge, Olly Woodburn, Henry Slade, Will Rigg, Paul Brown-Bampoe, Will Haydon-Wood, Will Becconsall; Scott Sio (c), Dan Frost, Ehren Painter, Franco Molina, Richard Capstick, Ross Vintcent, Jacques Vermeulen, Greg Fisilau.

Replacements: Jack Yeandle, Will Goodrick-Clarke, Marcus Street, Rusi Tuima, Ethan Roots, Stu Townsend, Harvey Skinner, Ben Hammersley.