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'Staggering, he lived the most euphoric first half of his career'
French media have hailed the man of the match performance from Zach Mercer in Friday night’s Top 14 final win by Montpellier. The out-of-favour England No8, who hasn’t been capped by Eddie Jones since 2018, magically rounded off his first season in France with a mesmerising first-half performance, contributing to all three tries in the opening 13 minutes of his team’s fully deserved 29-10 victory.
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The soon-to-be 25-year-old quit struggling Bath last summer for an adventure across the Channel and he has ripped it up in the French league, starting in 21 of his 26 Top 14 appearances and playing a colossal 1,747 minutes.
His latest and final display of the 2021/22 season, which helped Montpellier to its first-ever Top 14 title, was warmly embraced by the critics and an assessment on rugyrama.fr captured the hype that now surrounds Mercer.
“The English back-rower Zach Mercer delivered a staggering performance. He was involved in all three Montpellier tries. We call it international class. He lived the most euphoric first half of his career.
“Let’s say that this final was the most logical conclusion of an almost perfect season. Zach Mercer arrived in the off-season from Bath with a small reputation, admittedly not huge, but those who follow English rugby had glimpsed the performance of this technical and intelligent third line.
#FinaleTOP14
Il a fait l'unanimité, Zach Mercer (@MHR_Officiel) est l'Homme du Match @paramourdurugby de la Finale 2022 de TOP 14 ! ?
Il a permis à A.Vincent de marquer le 1er essai et a enchainé les prouesses tout le long du match ! pic.twitter.com/2fDp4OUbcn— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) June 24, 2022
“But from there to hover like that on the Top 14… Few No8s in our championship have as much facility to play like him. What an ability to pass the ball after contact!” His second half was a little more discreet because his team had less possession of the ball… but Philippe Saint-Andre left him on the lawn until the end.
“He will have sent a very strong signal to Eddie Jones, the England coach who has ignored him in recent years. If we follow the principles laid down by the RFU, he would have to come back home to put on the white tunic.
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“If that were to happen with a view to the 2023 World Cup, it would be heartbreaking for the Top 14 spectators and for the Saint-André-Mohed Altrad duo who believed in him and who put in the means to bring him to Montpellier. Let’s dare to mention Zach Mercer among the best of the MHR recruitment. Some more prestigious names did not have the same performance.”
Mercer said post-game: “It’s extraordinary. I can’t express my feelings but this group is fantastic. I’m really very proud to be part of it. When we were leading by 20 points I said to myself that it was dangerous, we had to do very be careful not to get distracted, but after 20 minutes we had played so well. We really wanted to bring this trophy back to Montpellier.”
Mercer joined Montpellier on a two-year deal with the option of a third year and the only possible loophole that might get him into the England World Cup squad while not at a Gallagher Premiership club could be if he signed a pre-contract to return to the English club game in 2023/24, presenting Jones with the opportunity to select him for the finals in France on the basis that he was committed to coming home following the tournament.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
37 Go to comments