Exeter Chiefs captain Henry Slade has opened up about the experience of being in South Africa for Saturday’s Champions Cup clash against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

The Chiefs arrived in SA earlier this week to prepare for the key Champions Cup clash, which will be played in hot conditions on Saturday night, a big change from the winter weather in England.

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While a place in the Champions Cup playoffs are to play for, Exeter took time off during the week to spend a period in the bush.

“It’s been a change from the sideways rain of England,” Slade told the Daily Mail. “It’s a very different experience but a good one for the squad. We went on safari and to a traditional steak house one night.

“We weren’t nervous being out on the cars on the safari but some of the lads, including me, were nervous about sleeping the night before. A couple of the South African guys we have told us that if you’re in a hotel in the bush, you have to check your beds for scorpions and snakes.

“Everyone was pretty worried about that! These things can do serious harm. It wasn’t ideal. We had a good night’s sleep and everyone survived.

“We’ve overcome the first hurdle here, I suppose,’ the centre added. “But it will be a different challenge on Saturday. The Bulls have massive guys but also some electric backs who we’re going to have to be all over defensively because they can do some serious damage.

“It’s an exciting challenge. It’s a very different climate and we’re playing against players we’ve never met before in a place we’ve never been to. We’ve spent a lot of time together off the pitch, which has been really beneficial.”

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