Zach Mercer has developed a “point of difference” at Montpellier that can hand Steve Borthwick a new Rugby World Cup dimension at No8.
Borthwick has drafted Gloucester-bound back-rower Mercer into his first Rugby World Cup training squad, and revealed high hopes for the 25-year-old.
Former Bath loose forward Mercer boasts just two caps and last played Test rugby five years ago, but England boss Borthwick is a big admirer.
The England head coach admitted he has been highly impressed by Mercer’s development in France’s unforgiving Top 14 league, and now the powerful, skilled back-rower has a genuine World Cup chance.
Billy Vunipola is expected back to full fitness in early August after knee trouble, leaving England flush with No8 options, with Harlequins’ Alex Dombrandt on hand and having featured through the Six Nations.
Exeter’s Montpellier-bound Sam Simmonds has ruled himself out of World Cup contention, so Mercer’s return and Vunipola’s expected fitness offsets that loss.
“Zach and I have spoken over these last few months, we’ve spoken many times,” said Borthwick.
“I’ve been watching his games and giving feedback, and Richard Hill and all our backroom staff have also been involved with all our backrowers. And Zach’s really ambitious about being part of the England team, and that’s impressed me.
“I think his point of difference quite clearly is the ability he has to find space and carry through big defenders. I think we’re all the sum of our experiences and he’s gone and played in France and he’s developed and learned from that.
“Since the last time I worked with Zach (with England) he’s developed as we all have, he has more experience, has played with different players and has taken on leadership responsibilities at Montpellier as well. So I sense a guy who has grown.”
Borthwick opted not to go into detail on Simmonds’ personal situation, but intimated his withdrawal rested on far more than an expectation of missing out on selection.
Exeter’s livewire loose forward has not featured at all under Borthwick, but was rated as at least on a par with Mercer by Montpellier head coach Philippe Saint-Andre. He rates Mercer and Simmonds as England’s top two No 8s, and will now have worked with both back-row forwards at club level.
Every player is within their rights to make the best decisions for their circumstances.
“The situation is personal to Sam and he talked to me about it and I respect that personal decision he has made, he spoke to me about his family and the different factors of what is ahead of him,” said Borthwick.
“Every player is within their rights to make the best decisions for their circumstances. What I would say is I have the great privilege now of working with a group of people who are desperate to be part of this world and desperate to represent England.”
Powerhouse Saracens No8 Vunipola was deemed surplus to Six Nations requirements by Borthwick, but now has a fine chance of making the World Cup 33 once he regains full sharpness.
The 30-year-old starred with Saracens again in the season just gone and Borthwick remains excited by the Sydney-born back-rower’s impending return to action.
England are already locked into week one of their lengthy World Cup training camps, with their first tournament match against Argentina not until September 9.
“Billy’s certainly part of our plans as we go forward,” said Borthwick. “We’ve got a group of players that is very competitive.
“We’ve got players of high quality, which is really exciting from my point of view. I’m looking forward to the point when Billy is back on the grass.
“Billy and I had a number of conversations. We met in January and we spoke over the phone in January and in the Six Nations we spoke a couple of times. Since the Six Nations I’ve met with him a couple of times, as I’ve met and spoken to lots of players, travelling around and meeting them.
“He’s one of them and he’s been an important player for England for a number of seasons and I think he has the potential to be an important player for England going forward.
“That back-row, we’ve got some competition there. You look at the quality of players that we’ve got and from a coaching point of view it’s exciting to coach players of that quality.”
