"We can read each other" – Ollie Sleightholme: England wing enjoyed 'All-Saints' back three in win over Japan

Today at 10:56 AM

One of the break out talents of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series, Ollie Sleightholme had quite the seamless transition from club to country. The Northampton Saints man made his first Test start in England’s third round defeat to the Springboks, and followed this up with a Player of the Match performance against Japan to wrap up his campaign.

Sleightholme was one third of quite the green, black and gold back three, as England head coach Steve Borthwick utilised an all-Saints trio for the final match of the series. Sleightholme ran out alongside his Northampton teammates George Furbank and Tommy Freeman, with the triumvirate of East Midlanders running roughshod on Eddie Jones’ Japanese defenders.

Sleightholme continued upon his impressive England strike rate, as he scored his fifth try of the Autumn Series against Japan. Furbank also got in on the try-scoring action, as he collected the audacious ’round-the-back’ offload from Tommy Freeman, that was worthy of any highlight reel. This was one such example of how the Saints boys have a telepathic understanding of one another, with Sleightholme enjoying the opportunity to bring this skill to the Test match stage.

“I think it was a real good team performance. We got we got those the things right that we wanted to get right and put a performance down on the pitch we’re proud of. Yes, always nice to score. It’s always nice.

“Yeah, I think we know each other really well. We know we can read each other. Know what we’re gonna do. It’s a good group to play with.” “So yeah, get back to the club, keep working hard and see where it gets us.”

Sleightholme certainly had two polarising sets of opponents for his initial England Test matches, as he went from being battered from pillar to post by the seismic Springboks, to testing his top sprint speed against the blistering Brave Blossoms. Sleightholme recognised how yesterday’s outing against Eddie Jones’ side was quite the far cry from the battle with Rassie Erasmus’ double World Champions.

“Definitely, like you say, two polar opposites for opposition, but again, we’re trying to put our game on the pitch, which we did in elements last week and did a lot this week.

“Definitely, they (Japan) come with a few tricks up their sleeves, that Steve made sure that we’d  got to be aware of. And I think it’s a case of trying to mitigate those factors.”

Sleightholme is one such player who is enjoying the increased refereeing crackdown on the ‘escort’ laws, that enable a kick chaser to have a better crack at collecting his high ball. The law was observed with great stringency in England’s win against Japan, with Sleightholme capitalising on the clear path to collecting the kick chase.

“I think there’s a lot more competition in the air, and it gives that chasing team a free shot in the areas that you didn’t used to. So there’s gonna be a lot more emphasis on people being able to win the ball, go back in the air, and on the other side to secure the ball.”

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