Mercer: I'm focused on Gloucester

IF desire to play for England was a factor in selection, Zach Mercer would be one of the first names on the team sheet. 

- PAUL REES

The Gloucester No.8 returned to the Premiership this season after a successful couple of years in the Top 14 playing for Montpellier with the sole intent of adding to the two caps he won in 2018.

The 26-year old was immediately recalled by England and named in early squads to prepare for the World Cup, but he failed to make the cut for France when only one specialist No.8 was picked.

He started the campaign for Gloucester who opened with victories over Harlequins and Newcastle but then suffered an ankle against Saracens on the third weekend and missed the next six matches.

So desperate was he to get back that he bought an oxygen chamber to speed up his recovery and returned before Christmas, but when he failed to make the Six Nations squad he used a radio interview to reveal his exasperation.

He was then left out of the A squad for today’s match against Portugal in Leicester but responded by doing his talking on the pitch against Exeter in last weekend’s Premiership semi-final at Kingsholm when he was virtually unplayable in the opening half.

He had a hand in his side’s three tries and, in standing out, showed why he had been left out by England. Instead of charging at defenders, he used his footwork to get round them, more Zinzan Brooke than Billy Vunipola.