Mercer is quick to answer calls from Jones now
The former Under-20 captain is determined to grab his full chance if he gets it, he tells Ben Coles
You would assume that missing a phone call from Eddie Jones is a habit to avoid for any England prospect, although it has not stopped Zach Mercer from losing his apprentice tag to become a full member of England’s squad.
Mercer, still just 20, remembers his first conversation with the England head coach last October after he scored for Bath in a 23-0 win over Treviso. On the occasions when Mercer is not missing Jones’ initial calls, the nerves kick in at the sight of the England head coach’s name on his screen.
“Every time I get a phone call from him my hands shake,” Mercer admits. “It is the national head coach and you don’t want to say anything you will regret. When you speak to him you have to speak with ultimate respect, because you have got to respect the guy for what he has achieved.
“The first time, I didn’t have his number. He left a voicemail and I was out with friends for some food. I seem to miss his calls first time every time. I ring back as soon as possible and say I am really sorry.
“The first time I spoke to him he was very genuine and told me what I needed to work on and was pretty honest with me. You would rather the calls last two minutes than ten, because he has not got that much to say. I am more than happy to speak to him for more than five minutes. But you know it is a good call when it is shorter than that.” The good news for Mercer is those chats are getting shorter.
Named Young Player of the Year back in May, Mercer was left out of England’s squad to Argentina last summer when a handful of the England Under-20 players he had a captained that season found themselves on the plane – Nick Isiekwe, Joe Cokanasiga, both Ben and Tom Curry. Behind his omission was a need for Mercer to improve his work-rate in defence, setting in place a new routine this season centred around adding more muscle to his 6ft 3in frame.
“I have showed some different sides to my game this season, my physicality in defence,” Mercer explains. “I’ve been working hard in the gym, working with the England and Bath strength and conditioning coaches to get a bit more stopping power.
“They’re pretty happy with my body weight, it’s more just lean muscle and mass. I’ve been working hard there and I’m reaching my targets. I’ll be in Portugal working hard as well.”
Mercer has already met one of his first objectives with England; to get rid of the asterisk next to his name which previously designated his role as an apprentice, along with rising star Marcus Smith.
Contrary to the rumours there have been no boot-cleaning or tea-making duties for the two talented prospects.
“I think Eddie just forgets the asterisk is there, but when it came to selection and training we didn’t sit out or anything like that,” said Mercer. “The first time in Portugal he cracked a few jokes a couple of times, but it was just about laughing it off really and trying to prove him wrong in a good way. “We are there competing 110 per cent all the time. We are not there just to clean boots, we are there to compete and there to learn and try to develop as rugby players.
“His new contract is outstanding news for England rugby, having him after the World Cup. There is no transition then and it means England rugby is good hands.
“Eddie’s player management skills are unbelievable; the way he communicates with players, the way he gets the best out of players is absolutely outstanding. Working with him is very special. His shift from being very serious to having a laugh is just like that. You can sit at the dinner table having a laugh and a joke and that is why he gets the best out of players.”
Injuries to both Billy Vunipola
‘We are not there just to clean boots but to develop as rugby players’
and Nathan Hughes have opened the door for one of Mercer or Sam Simmonds to start against Italy in two weeks’ time.
“I had that weekend down in Brighton in January and saw how [Vunipola] trains and prepares,” Mercer recalled. “Unfortunately he has been injured and that is an opportunity for me like I had at Bath with [David] Denton and [Taulupe] Faletau getting injured.
“I am pretty good at taking the opportunities if they come round.”
His chance to prove that on the international stage may be only a couple of weeks away.
See Bath v Leicester at Twickenham on April 7. Tickets from £5 for juniors, £15 for adults, available at bathrugby.com/theclash