DON’TLOOK ZACH IN ANGER
Watson hails England misfit Mercer for keeping Bath’s hopes alive despite being set for move to Montpellier
ANTHONY WATSON watched team-mate Zach Mercer inspire Bath as they kept their play-off hopes alive – then revealed he had given him the cold shoulder.
Ben Spencer’s 80th-minute conversion nicked it as they leapfrogged Tigers.
Bath have not lost to Leicester at the Rec since 2011, but they left it mighty late to get over the line and move up to seventh.
It was a kick in the guts for Steve Borthwick’s men – who were 10 points up going into the last quarter – but nothing less than Bath No.8 Mercer deserved.
England misfit Mercer is off to Montpellier in the French Top 14 at the end of the season after being ignored by Eddie Jones.
And that puts the kybosh on his international career for the time being. But his display here made a mockery of Jones’ decision to give him just two caps.
Mercer carried hard, tackled everything in sight and got his hands on the ball.
And Watson admitted he had finally forgiven Mercer for leaving – after snubbing him when he heard the news about France.
Watson said: “At first I questioned Zach’s decision to leave the club and I was a bit hostile to him.
“But the way he has taken the opportunity to represent this club has made me feel like a bit of an idiot.
“He has been world class and for someone to do that and to be leaving at the end of the year shows what type of bloke he is.
“It didn’t think he was making the right decision and I was standoffish.
“I spoke to him about it and I understand his reasons a bit better. When his contract is over there, he will still be less than 25 years old.”
Bath boss Stuart Hooper said: “Zach was outstanding again. We have this conversation after every game he plays in at the moment. His ability to beat the first defender and keep the ball alive is a rare commodity in English rugby.”
Leading 9-7 at half-time and 20-14 going into the dying seconds, Leicester managed to toss this away and their chances of a top-four finish look cooked.
Their scrum was dominant, George Ford had a stand-out game with his spiral bombs, passing and place kicking – but they just could not put Bath away.
Boss Steve Borthwick said: “We have got a lot to do. We are making steps forward and we will continue to learn.”