Steve Borthwick impressed by Zach Mercer as Rugby World Cup alternative beckons
Borthwick has drafted Gloucester-bound back-rower Mercer into his first Rugby World Cup coaching squad, and revealed excessive hopes for the 25-year-old.
Former Bath free ahead Mercer boasts simply two caps and final performed Test rugby 5 years in the past, however England boss Borthwick is an enormous admirer.
The England head coach admitted he has been extremely impressed by Mercer’s growth in France’s unforgiving Top 14 league, and now the highly effective, expert back-rower has a real World Cup likelihood.
Billy Vunipola is anticipated again to full health in early August after knee hassle, leaving England flush with No8 choices, with Harlequins’ Alex Dombrandt available and having featured via the Six Nations.
Exeter’s Montpellier-bound Sam Simmonds has dominated himself out of World Cup competition, so Mercer’s return and Vunipola’s anticipated health offsets that loss.
“Zach and I have spoken over these last few months, we’ve spoken many times,” stated 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 enter element on Simmonds’ private state of affairs, however intimated his withdrawal rested on excess of an expectation of lacking out on choice.
Exeter’s livewire free ahead has not featured in any respect underneath Borthwick, however was rated as no less than on a par with Mercer by Montpellier head coach Philippe Saint-Andre. He charges Mercer and Simmonds as England’s high two No 8s, and can now have labored with each back-row forwards at membership stage.
Every participant is inside their rights to make the very best selections for his or her 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,” stated 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 necessities by Borthwick, however now has a wonderful likelihood of creating the World Cup 33 as soon as he regains full sharpness.
The 30-year-old starred with Saracens once more within the season simply gone and Borthwick stays excited by the Sydney-born back-rower’s impending return to motion.
England are already locked into week one among their prolonged World Cup coaching camps, with their first match match towards Argentina not till September 9.
Billy Vunipola is again in England competition
/ PA“Billy’s certainly part of our plans as we go forward,” stated 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.”