Henry Slade has revealed how a darts night in London acted as a team-bonding catalyst for Englandâs outstanding victory over Ireland last Saturday.
The squad gathered for refreshments and arrows at theme bar Flight Club on the eve of their departure for a week-long training camp in Portugal where the groundwork for an epic win in Dublin was laid.
Courtney Lawes emerged as the star of the evening after Nathan Hughes revealed âhe has that long reach and just places the dart on the boardâ, while replacement prop Harry Williams finished bottom.
Eddie Jones sanctioned an evening requested by senior players believing that the danger of misbehaviour was outweighed by the benefit of allowing his Six Nations title challengers to connect.
âThey didnât get into trouble which was fantastic and isnât always the case when youâve got 30 guys going out and having a drink,â Jones said.
âThey wanted to go into the camp ready to go, have some stories to tell and have some togetherness. Thatâs where weâre going as a team.â
Slade, who served notice of his arrival as a Test player by scoring two tries at the Aviva Stadium, appreciates the value of gathering in a social environment.
âWe had a room, played some darts, had a couple of drinks and had a real good time,â Slade said.
âWe do a very similar thing at Exeter at the start of pre-season and itâs a great way to get to know each other.
âYou feel closer to the bloke next to you because youâve shared experiences off the field. Itâs not purely business and work â youâre playing with your mates.
âIt feels like your back at school playing with your mates, who you genuinely want to do well for.
âThe coaches came to us and said âis there anything you think would be beneficial?â so a couple of the senior boys got together.
âWe had a room. There were loads of electronic dartboards, linked up to a scoreboard. You didnât have to actually count yourself â some people would be buggered with that.
âI never really play at all but I had a hell of a checkout â three doubles. I shocked myself.
âThe bulk of us have been here for a few years now. Weâve had a real emphasis on being together on and off the field, getting together in little groups off the field and having a good time.
âWe didnât tend to do that as much before. You share experiences off the field and that brings you together on the field.â