Zach Mercer was once seen as England’s missing piece. The misfiring Billy Vunipola, the unimpressive Alex Dombrandt and the strange lack of inclusion for Ben Earl meant a return for Mercer would ensure he would thrust straight into the starting XV. Especially as the 2023 Rugby World Cup was just around the corner, Mercer would have relishing his chances and an oppportunity to excel where his counterparts could not. Fast forward six months and the Gloucester backrower is nowhere to be seen. His homecoming to England was supposed to be a celebrated occasion as a versatile and exciting players was coming back to the international team he cast aside only two years prior. Mercer will be surprised as to what as happened and his new beginnings have turned quickly into a nightmare.
Ever since his surprise move to Montpellier in 2021, Mercer has been ripping the game apart superbly. With his adept ball carrying, paired with explosive running and effective tackling, Mercer tore apart the rulebook surrounding what a number eight was supposed to do. Long gone are the days of number eights blindly running into contact and constantly taking crash balls and Mercer redefined his role within the team and consequently secured Montpellier’s maiden Top 14 title. Mercer’s importance to Montepellier can clearly be shown by how he played 59 matches across two seasons for the French outfit. This sheer number of games demonstrates that Mercer was a key player and provided so much value. Furthermore, his achievement of winning the Top 14 player of the season as an Englishman is second to none and unprecedented.
However, a move to Gloucester, that has made sure of his eligibility to play for England has quickly soured. It does appear that Mercer was promised of a spot in the England squad, due to his stellar performances in France, but he has now been excluded from the World Cup squad and now the upcoming 2024 Six Nations. Many fans will have been perplexed at the sight of Mercer having been forced to watch from his home in England rather than being on the frontline himself in France at the World Cup. His form over the two years he was in Montpellier was nothing short of astounding, however being left out of the Six Nations squad does present itself to be the correct call by Steve Borthwick.
Gloucester have struggled significantly this season and lie in ninth place in the Premiership, only above Newcastle Falcons who have not won a domestic game all season. The troubling form that Gloucester are in may be reason as to why Mercer is not included. Club performances and form are extremely important to transfer to the international game. There is a reason why the majority of the squad is made up of Northampton Saints and Harlequins players as they are the two teams currently occupying first and second place in the Premiership. This is also shown by Eddie Jones’ consistent selections of a multitude of Saracens players when the North London outfit won the Premiership three times and the European Rugby Champions Cup three times during his period as England coach. By keeping the bulk of English players from the best teams within the English league together at the national team, a stronger squad can be built and supplemented by those who are not at those clubs. Important connections and bonds are still in place much like they are at club level but this time they can be replicated and effectively used in the international arena.
Furthermore, Mercer has been outperformed greatly by his competitors for the number eight position. Alex Dombrandt has improved hugely and Alfie Barbeary has been one of the best players in the Premiership season. With Ben Earl’s ability to play both openside flanker and number eight and emerging impressive form, there is no space for Mercer currently in the squad. It is clear that Mercer does not possess what Borthwick wants in a number eight and Mercer may now be regretting his move back to England from a league in which he was performing to his fullest ability.
To add insult to injury, Mercer has now expressed his frustration publicly. In an interview with BBC Sport, Mercer said he does not feel that Borthwick ‘values what he can offer’ and that it was time to ‘put the international selection aside’ and that he is ‘just going to focus on Gloucester’. Mercer’s comments are one of intrigue and clearly present his exasperation at not being selected. A direct and public backlash to Borthwick’s decision to not include him in the England squad is surely not the correct to go about expressing any sort of emotion and will not put him in good stead for future selections.
Only two international appearances is arguably a travesty for a player of Mercer’s talents but he will not be given a chance for the forseeable future within this England setup. Whilst he has been a tremendous player and it was widely believed that he only signed for Gloucester as part of a promise to be selected in the England national squad, his homecoming has swiftly worsened. Gloucester’s form has not helped his case whatsoever and the fine performances of other players vying for the number eight shirt have improved monumentally. It will be interesting whether Mercer throws in the towel once more and transfers abroad despite his comments.
The Match Report 