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Zach Mercer has broken silence on his England World Cup rejection
By Liam Heagney
Unwanted England hopeful Zach Mercer has broken his silence on his Rugby World Cup rejection by Steve Borthwick. Following a maiden season in France that ended with the No8 winning the Top 14 title with Montpellier and being voted the league’s player of the year, the promptings of then-England boss Eddie Jones last summer played its part in convincing the now 26-year-old that he had a chance to carve out a Test career provided he signed for a Gallagher Premiership club at the end of his two-year cross-Channel stay.
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This the twice-capped player did, agreeing to a four-year deal to join Gloucester for the 2023/24 season in the hope that it would see him return to France late next month as part of the England World Cup squad.
However, Jones was sacked as Test team boss last December and although his successor Borthwick named Mercer in his squads for the three initial June training weeks at Pennyhill, Brighton and Lensbury, he was omitted from the 41-strong selection chosen on June 30 to compete for a place in the squad of 33 that will be unveiled on August 7.
That decision left Mercer to pick up the pieces at Gloucester pre-season and he has now shared his thoughts for the first time about no longer being part of the England set-up ahead of their opening Summer Nations Series match away to Wales on August 5.
After becoming a first-time father last weekend following the birth of daughter Iris, Mercer insightfully spoke with The Times about his England setback, explaining what was said to him by head coach Borthwick and how he has taken that rejection.
“It was obviously extremely disappointing but I’m ready and I’ve got the aspiration to put on that England jersey again,” he said. “There were things that Steve wanted that I maybe couldn’t provide. I’m out of the picture, but I’m not just looking to the World Cup, even though it would have been amazing to return to France.
“I know I’ve got a long few years ahead of me yet. Don’t get me wrong, for 48 hours it was tough, but reality kicks in and you go, ‘Look, you’ve got a pregnant wife, a beautiful house to move into, real-life things you’ve got to sort out.’
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“I play the game very differently to a lot of No 8s in England, and in the world. I’m not the stereotypical No 8 as some would say. So, I understand it if you want to play differently. Obviously, the back row is really competitive, so I knew I was never guaranteed. Steve wanted to go down a different route with how he wanted the back row to play and who he wanted.
“I’m not sitting and waiting as it would drive me insane. If I get a call from Steve, I get a call from Steve. There was no bad blood left there at all. It’s not written off, not at all. You want to play in World Cups, but at the forefront is my little baby girl, my wife, and Gloucester.”
I went down to Gloucester this week to see Zach Mercer.
Maybe he’s still in the rose-tinted early days of fatherhood, but, while hurt, he’s not bitter about his #England dropping.
“I’m not sitting and waiting as it would drive me insane.”@TimesSport https://t.co/SQPFitzMfh
— Will Kelleher (@willgkelleher) July 28, 2023
He’s got real X factor , something that is missing with Dombrandt ( superb for Harlequins , lacking a bit a test level ) and Big Billy ( lost a yard of pace ) .. so not as effective . Mercer has skill, balance and speed , the later being essential if you are to win the collision. Sam Simmonds would be a similar rival , but Mercer has an elusive style , which makes him so effective.
Unstustainable
He has every right to be bitter. You should have players that can play the game differently so you have tactical options
Big big mistake