Jump to Main ContentJump to Primary Navigation
leicestertigers.comMattioli Woods Welford RoadContact UsTopps Tiles
News

Slater ready to go again on England duty

Figure image
Ed Slater aims to put the disappointment of Saturday's Heineken Cup defeat to Ulster behind him when he links up with the England squad this week.

Slater joins Dan Cole and Ben and Tom Youngs in England’s Six Nations squad preparing to kick off the Championship away to France on the opening weekend of February, while Jamie Gibson, Graham Kitchener, Miles Benjamin and Mathew Tait have all been named in the England Saxons training squad to face the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds at Kingsholm this Saturday (5pm, Sky Sports 1).

Speaking after the 22-19 defeat to Ulster, Slater said: “I have the weekend to try to calm myself down a bit and hopefully go in with plenty of enthusiasm.

“The result knocked the wind out of us a bit but we will come back. We have two weeks in the LV= Cup which is an opportunity for some of the guys to rest up and for others there will be opportunities to play and hold their hands up.

“For me, I will do whatever I can in training and work as hard as I can. If I have to come back and play for Leicester I love doing that. Whatever comes of it will be positive in my mind.”

The 22-19 defeat on Saturday was Tigers’ first at Welford Road in 25 Heineken Cup games since Munster’s win in October 2006.

The result meant Tigers finished runners-up in Pool 5 and face a last-eight trip to the 18,000-capacity Stade Marcel Michelin where ASM Clermont Auvergne have an unbeaten home run stretching more than 70 games.

“We are disappointed,” said Slater. “We got ourselves to a point in the game, 10 points up, where we should have shown a bit more control.

“When they have a player like Ruan Pienaar, he is going to punish you when you give away silly penalties.

“We had an opportunity to take a home quarter-final and we have a proud record at Welford Road that’s stood for a few years now. I’m just peeved about losing the game. I haven’t considered that quarter-final at the moment.”