Zach Mercer hits out at Steve Borthwick who doesn’t ‘value’ what he ‘offers’
Zach Mercer playing for the Barbarians and England head coach Steve Borthwick.
Gloucester back-rower Zach Mercer has criticised Steve Borthwick after the England boss omitted him from the Six Nations squad.
Mercer trained with the Red Rose squad ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup but missed out on the final cut.
The 26-year-old believes that Borthwick does not value what he can offer the team and is disappointed that he hasn’t been given a chance to prove himself.
Open and honest
Mercer revealed that he had been in contact with the England coach and had honestly expressed his disappointment of missing out on the Six Nations squad.
“I’m older, more mature; I put the international selection aside now; I’m done for the time being with that, and I’m just going to focus on Gloucester,” Mercer told BBC Sport in a frank interview.
The powerful number eight spent three weeks in the England set-up ahead of the World Cup but wasn’t given any game time to fight for his place in the squad before he was released.
This was after he signed a deal to return to the Premiership with Gloucester from Montpellier, where he won a Top 14 title, in order to chase an England recall.
“To come back and get given three weeks in a training camp, and that was it; I was really disappointed with that,” Mercer added.
“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.
“I just don’t feel like he values what I can offer as a player, and that’s me being honest, I don’t think he values what I can bring.
“Obviously, I don’t fit into the system that he wants to run, and whether I agree with that or not, it is what it is.
“My focus now is on Gloucester, and England can take a step aside for the moment.”
“You won’t be able to drop me”
The Cherry and Whites forward confirmed that Borthwick called him ahead of the squad announcement to inform him that he was not going to be selected.
“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,” Mercer said.
“Like I said, he doesn’t want to pick me right now, whatever reason that’s for.”
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