Eddie’s apprentices Four with a big future

Zach Mercer, 20

The Bath back-rower joined England in the autumn before becoming the first to shed his apprentice status when Billy Vunipola broke an arm ahead of the Six Nations. He was the 24th man for the Wales game on Saturday.

Marcus Smith, 19

Smith has been part of Eddie Jones’s camps since the end of last season. The creative fly-half, who turns 19 today, has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Harlequins, amassing 168 points, and signed a senior club contract in January.

Gabriel Ibitoye, 19

Jones had a look at Ibitoye at the England training camp yesterday. Another Harlequin, he is a quick, evasive try-scorer who scorched through five Wales Under-20 tacklers to cross the line last Friday night in Newcastle.

Sam Moore, 19

The Cardiffborn teenager’s father, Steve, represented Wales. However, the abrasive Sale Sharks back-rower has graduated through the England age groups. Like Ibitoye, he is a member of the current Under-20 side.