Gloucester star Zach Mercer is too good not to play for England and it’s a travesty Steve Borthwick has left him out.
That is the view of 2003 World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio, who cannot understand how the 26-year-old remains out of the Red Rose side.
Mercer, who hans’t played for England since 2018, spearheaded Gloucester into the Premiership Cup final by putting in a man-of-the-match display last weekend.
Speaking on commentary, Dallaglio roared: “You can’t be the best player in France and not get into the England squad.”
Dallaglio, like Mercer, a ball playing No.8, was voicing the incredulity felt by many over the snubbing of the Gloucester forward by England head coach Borthwick.
He even failed to find a place in the England A team for the former Montpellier star who was voted Player of the Year in France in 2022 – the first Englishman to win the award.
With reports that French giants Toulon, Racing 92 and former club Montpellier want to take Mercer back to the Top 14, the No.8 could be lost to England again as he cannot be picked if he is playing abroad.
Given England have failed to set the rugby world alight under Borthwick, the idea that you would ignore a player with the skills to impress the entire French Top 14 competition is hard to comprehend.
There is a growing belief that it is a conflict of styles that has led to Mercer’s absence, with Borthwick unimpressed by a forward who can run, pass, kick and has brilliant handling skills.
To put into context how ludicrous and dumbfounding the situation is, it is the equivalent of an English footballer joining Valencia, winning LaLiga and being named Player of the Season in their first year at the club.
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All while the world’s best, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were still operating in the league and then being told told they’re not good enough to make the Senior or England ‘A’ teams.
Despite becoming a star in France, Mercer swapped Montpellier for Gloucester in the hope of winning a spot in Borthwick’s 2023 World Cup spot.
When the move was announced, there was a feeling amongst fans that a real talent was returning and England’s World Cup hopes would be bolstered after a dreadful Six Nations campaign.
He was named in the initial squad, only to be dumped when it was reduced to 41 players by Borthwick who seems increasingly entrenched in his view of the maverick forward.
The 2022 Top 14 champion is adamant he would prove his worth to Borthwick if given the chance to add to his two caps.
Mercer told BBC Sport: “I said, if you give me an opportunity you won’t be able to drop me’.
“I want this so badly that I know when I play, he won’t be able to take me out of the team.
“To come back and get given three weeks in a training camp and that was it, I was really disappointed with that.
“I’ve been open with Steve, I’ve told him my opinions on it. I thought I haven’t really been given a crack, which is what I feel like, to not even be given a game to try and prove myself is tough.”
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England icon James Haskell, meanwhile, has been left in disbelief that the player isn’t even in contention to play for England’s ‘A’ squad against Portugal on Sunday.
He said on his The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast: “I feel sorry [for him], whoever told him to leave Montpellier when he was absolutely carving up, I’d be livid. He was ripping up trees.”
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