Rob Baxter, the Exeter director of rugby, had urged Lancaster not to ditch Slade, who can also play fly‑half as well as be a goal-kicker, telling Telegraph Sport that the 22-year-old would bring a footballing X-factor to England’s back line that would bring the best out of wings such as Anthony Watson and Jonny May. “Henry is a young player on form and this is the time to pick him,” Baxter said. “He has been on form either at 10 or in the midfield this season and if that is not the time to pick someone and go with it then there never will be.”