'You'd be stupid to turn it down' - Why Zach Mercer chose England over Scotland
With two test caps, over half a century of Premiership outings, and a multitude of accolades as a junior international, Zach Mercer has had an impressive start to his career.
The 21-year-old loose forward represented England at U18 and U20 levels since joining Bath in 2015, captaining the U20 side in 2017 as he led them to an U20 Six Nations grand slam and an U20 World Championship final appearance.
His performances were enough to earn himself a nomination for Wold Junior Player of the Year, and has gone on to build his reputation in the Premiership with Bath under the guidance of director of rugby Todd Blackadder.
After 57 appearances in the Premiership, Mercer has done enough to earn a couple of test caps for England, making his debut against South Africa at Twickenham last year.
While he still remains on the fringes of the England national set-up, Mercer told SCRUM that he’s gunning for further appearances after being left out of this year’s Six Nations squad.
“I had a good conversation with Eddie and he’s told me what I need to work on and the things that he wants to see me do for Bath,” he said.
“I’ve obviously got an eye on the World Cup at the end of the year so if I do get another opportunity in camp with the boys, I’ll try to put my hand up for another shot in an England jersey.”
Challenging for a spot in the England test squad may not have been the case, though.
Prior to signing for Bath four years ago, Mercer was initially in the Scotland system, representing the country of which he’d moved to at the age of eight at a youth level while plying his trade in the Glasgow Warriors academy.
However, after starring for Scotland’s U16 side, the Leeds-born flanker was omitted from the U18 squad, with his commitment to the game in England rather than Scotland cited as the reason for his dismissal.
“I grew up in Scotland and I qualified to play on residency so that’s what I did,” Mercer said.
“I played for Scotland’s U16s because, at the time, I just wanted to play international rugby and to test myself against the best.
“I tried to get into the Scotland U18s a year early but I didn’t get selected. The next year came around and I was gunning to play [for Scotland U18s]. Around the same time, I was looking at some different contracts and that’s when Bath offered me one. When you’re offered a contract by a team like that, you’d be stupid to turn it down so, of course, I accepted it.
“Unfortunately, that was when the coach of the Scotland U18s called me and told me he wasn’t going to pick me because I hadn’t committed to Scotland and to Scottish rugby.
“I remember that day pretty well, because, 20 minutes later, when I told the England U18s head coach I hadn’t been picked, he just said: ‘Come down and play for us then’.”
“After that, my first game for England U18s was against Scotland. Honestly, you couldn’t write it.”
Mercer still remains professional about the situation four years on, refusing to hold any grudges against Scotland, instead viewing the situation as part and parcel of professional sport.
“I haven’t looked back since because sometimes, you’ve just got to look after yourself,” he said.
But I’ve got to give the Scottish system credit for helping me out in the early years with physio, S&C [strength and conditioning] and the nutrition side of things.”
“I’ve always wanted to play for England though so when that opportunity came, I couldn’t turn it down.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
I’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
133 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
133 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
133 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
133 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
133 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
133 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
133 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
133 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
133 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
133 Go to commentsHo hum.
133 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
133 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
133 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
133 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
133 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
133 Go to comments