'Was I ready for England at the time? Maybe not'
Montpellier back row Zach Mercer says he’s concentrating on getting himself into the best position to take an opportunity with England, should it arise, but he will not be leaving France anytime soon.
The 24-year-old outshone England No.8 Alex Dombrandt in his side’s first-leg victory over Harlequins in the Heineken Champions Cup, firmly placing himself back in the England conversation.
Yet in an appearance on The RugbyPass Offload Podast, Mercer acknowledges that he won’t be a selection possibility as long as he plays in France.
“It’s always good to play against English people. When you play Top 14 every week you hear French all the time and it just goes over your head,” Mercer told Marc Edwards, Ryan Wilson and Max Lahiff on the podcast, when reflecting on the recent win over Quins and playing English opposition.
“It’s quite nice when you’ve got Marler on the other side of the scrum trying to give you stick. You getting people chirpsing left, right and centre. At least now I can understand what they are saying,” joked Mercer.
“It’s good to play against Dombrandt, the current England No.8, and to play against familiar faces, as you get back in the shop window effectively.
“I was expecting a lot more [chat from Marler]. Didn’t get much from him. Last time I played him in the Prem, he was like ‘How much do you sign for Montpellier for?’ At the back of the lineout screaming it.”
“It was like 28 degrees [in Montpellier] and everyone was blowing out their backside. Everyone was like I can’t speak, it’s too tiring.”
Mercer revealed that England head coach Eddie Jones did reach out to him after his MOTM performance in the first leg.
“After last weekend, we touched base again. It’s all positive news but at the moment, I know where I am with my rugby, I’m in France and I don’t really have to worry about England.
“I’ve played twice and I’ve loved it but I think I’m a lot better player now than I was then, mentally and physically.”
Mercer believes the white-hot furnace of French rugby is the best place for him to develop as a player, a development he felt had stalled in the Gallagher Premiership.
“I’d like to get that [England] shirt back on again because I do think I can perform better than I did. But for me, I love it here. I’m showing that in my performances. The lifestyle is amazing, the players and the coaching staff. It’s a great place to be.
“We’re vying for silverware this season. I could have stayed in the Premiership and been comfortable, but I wanted to get out of that zone. The Top 14 is ridiculous. The size of the blokes. The relentlessness, week in, week out.
“We went to Perpignan who were second from bottom of the league three weeks ago. You’ve got a tunnel of people just screaming and booing in your face, a tunnel of people just absolutely abusing you.
“It’s so hard to win away in this league because everyone is so focused on winning their home games. Like Brive for example. I think only two teams have beaten Brive away this year.
“The physicality of the league, it’s a just a battle, every week you’re playing against 140kg blokes. You’re like, what is going on?’ But it’s good.
“I don’t know any of the guys in the league so I can rock up with no expectations of who I’m playing against, so I’m relaxed. I like it.
“In the Prem or URC you’re like ‘Right this guy plays for them, he good at this, he can do that.’ Whereas in the Top 14 it’s like ‘I’ve no idea who this guy is. Like, that guy, he’s obviously a French international, but that’s it’. There’s a real good balance mentally.”
Mercer also doesn’t hold any grudges after getting the selection cold shoulder from England, acknowledging that it may have come too early for him.
“I got named in the squad at 18. I was an apprentice for two years. I made my debut in 2018, so I would been maybe 20. I got called into a squad but I only got named that year because Nathan [Hughes] was out and Billy Vunipola and Courtney Lawes were also injured, so I think the 8s were me and Ben Morgan in the squad, so I get the opportunity to sit on the bench in the South African game and Tom Curry came off injured after 40 minutes. So I played a good half of rugby then.
“I got my opportunity and the journalist said I should start against the All Blacks a week later. And I was like imagine that, playing against the All Blacks with my heritage.
“I won’t tell you what he said but he [Eddie Jones] said there’s one reason why, and you won’t play. Then I named to play against Japan the week after, and I was like ‘okay, I’ve got another shot now.
‘Then Jamie George got a yellow carded and I had to go off for 10 minutes for scrum and then was taken off two minutes into the second half, so I actually played more in the game when I came off the bench then I did when I started.
“I don’t blame Eddie. If I got the opportunity again, I’m a completely different person.
“I’d be in a better position to take the shirt. Was I ready at the time? Maybe not.
“If I got an opportunity again I’d relish it. I know what I’m doing right now is right for me and right for the way I want to develop my game, so when the opportunity rises again, if it rises again, I’d have a better opportunity to take it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments