The other forgotten England No.8 hailed as 'exceptional' this weekend
Bath boss Stuart Hooper hailed an “exceptional” performance by England international Zach Mercer on his return from injury in a 22-21 victory over Worcester.
The Bath number eight, who won two caps in 2018, had not featured since mid-November, but he quickly made up for lost time by scoring a try after just 90 seconds at Sixways.
Now fully fit following a knee ligament injury, he delivered an eye-catching display as Bath moved up to fourth in the Gallagher Premiership.
“I thought he was exceptional,” Bath rugby director Hooper said.
“He didn’t just get through the 80 minutes, I thought he was consistently dominant with his ball-carry, and he was consistent in his collision-dominance.
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“He has worked unbelievably hard.
“I know people always say that, but he has been out for three months, so for him to come back on a very fast surface and get through 80 minutes is a credit to him and the work he has put in.”
Worcester had a chance to win with the game’s final kick, but full-back Chris Pennell’s 55-metre effort drifted wide.
And although Storm Dennis did not arrive during the game, Bath’s forwards provided sufficient ferocity to knock Worcester out of their stride.
'The biggest one was 1,700 pieces' @bathrugby No.8 @Mercer8Zach takes an unorthodox approach to keeping sane while injured – writes @chrisjonespress #Bath https://t.co/wUq1YFrOyY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 15, 2020
Mercer, flanker Francois Louw and lock Josh McNally all scored tries, while fly-half Rhys Priestland kicked two conversions and a penalty.
In contrast to Priestland’s accuracy, his opposite number Duncan Weir could not master the blustery conditions, missing five from nine shots at goal.
The Scotland international booted three penalties and a conversion, but tries by number eight Cornell Du Preez and wing Nick David, on his Premiership debut, could not sink Bath.
Bath have lost just one of their last five games, and Hooper added: “The hallmark of this league is that anyone can beat anyone on any given weekend.
“It makes for an exciting competition – and some nerve-racking moments at the back end of games.
With zero wins so far this season for Yorkshire Carnegie, relegation from the RFU Championship to National League 1 seems increasingly likely for a side that once finished fourth in the Premiership.https://t.co/cEGAx8w5uX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 16, 2020
“But it also presents a massive opportunity. You get yourself in the top four, and you are in with a chance of winning the competition.
“Grinding out wins like this and picking up four points here is massive in the context of the competition. If you do that a few times across the season, you give yourself a chance.
“They were very tough conditions. The first-half we were off and weren’t where we needed to be tactically or from an effort point of view.
“I am very proud of the effort they put in during the second-half, and their application to get us back in the game. We rolled our sleeves up.”
This came down to the WIRE.https://t.co/I9KCaiwwie
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 15, 2020
Worcester, though, were left to reflect on what might have been, with a losing bonus point proving scant consolation.
Warriors rugby director Alan Solomons said: “It is very tough. I thought we did enough to win the game, but at the end of the day, penalties told against us.
“If I look back to the games against Exeter, Wasps and this one, they are all games we should have won, but that is where you have got to be resilient.
“If you keep at it, the wheel turns, there is no doubt about that.
“Every game you play in the Premiership is of a very high standard, and the margins are fine. At the moment, we are just falling on the wrong side of those margins.
“But if we keep at it and stick at it, we will come through.”
PA
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments