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Former England age-grade lock heading to France

George Merrick of Harlequins wins the line out during the Gallagher Premiership Big Game 11 match between Harlequins and Wasps at Twickenham. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

Teams across Europe are busy building their squads for the 2019/20 season and Clermont have snapped up a new lock for the upcoming campaign.

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With the likes of Paul Jedrasiak and Sébastien Vahaamahina – the Top 14-leading number four with an RPI of 84 – potentially away with France at the Rugby World Cup later this year and Flip van der Merwe and Sitaleki Timani both well into their 30’s, Clermont have made the proactive move to bolster their stocks in the engine room.

The French side, who are currently at the summit of the Top 14, have signed Harlequins lock George Merrick on a two-year deal set to begin in the summer, with an option to extend that contract to 2022.

Merrick has made over 50 appearances for Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership, but has never been able to fully cement himself into the regular starting XV. He previously represented England at U20 level in 2012, where he played alongside the likes of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Henry Slade and Marland Yarde, as well as club teammates Kyle Sinckler, Jack Clifford, Sam Twomey and Charlie Walker.

The 26-year-old is a product of the Quins academy and is not the only home grown lock to be moving to pastures new of late, with Charlie Matthews having left the club at the end of the 2017/18 season in order to join Wasps, and Twomey having linked up with London Irish at the same time.

Merrick’s departure signals the continuing revolution at the Twickenham-based club, with Head of Rugby Paul Gustard moulding the club’s roster to his liking. Further Quins academy products are also believed to be moving on at the end of the season, with Walker and Luke Wallace among those reported to be heading to new clubs in the summer.

The second row will be hopeful of enjoying a productive career in France and Clermont head coach Franck Azéma has already praised Merrick’s hard-working nature and consistency. Merrick will join fellow Englishman Nick Abendanon at the club, whilst the likes of David Strettle, Alex King and Richard Cockerill have all enjoyed successful stints in Clermont-Ferrand previously.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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