When I read the interview it didn't come across like that. More that he was focussing on club rugby now as England didn't want him at the moment.
Worth a read as the headline warped what he said as they always do.
The media are scum.
What ever we think about him for England, We likely missed Roots quite abit to add that physical edge alongside Vermulen to deal with Mercer. We also missed Slade quite alot to bring some control from 13 to that backline.Barring international callups that's as strong as chiefs can put out - fair enough Chiefs have more international callups than Gloucester, but Gloucester have also been guff all season and Chiefs are flying
I think Mercer was very petulant and I have cooled to him a fair bit since but, from his perspective, he is told that he probably isn't physical enough/well rounded/lacks big game experience. He uproots his life and goes to arguably the most physical league in the world and doesn't just hold his own, he excels, repeatedly. He then comes back to England in the hopes of rekindling his England hopes and sees a useless lump like Vunipola waltz right back in off the back of injury and poor performances and gets completely snubbed.The media are scum. I agree with you there. However, IMO, Mercer came across as petulant and entitled. I understand his disappointment, but when you say you are 'done with England', you can't really expect to be in the picture.
When the 6N squad was announced, Mercer was probably the 3rd best performing 8 across the season behind Dombrandt and Barbeary. When you also consider that Earl is an 8 for England and he man in possession, I really don't think not selecting him was particularly controversial. Personally, I would have called up Mercer ahead of CCS, but so far the latter has been one of the finds of the tournament for England and Earl is playing well at 8 so it's worked out well.
For the A squad, I expect Barbeary is the player they want to look at and Mercer's reaction to not being selected for the senior squad doesn't suggest he'd graciously accept being included for the As.
Looked like the cheapest standard ticket.wss £40ish yesterday morning, unless I was looking wrong...Sums up the championship a bit Ealing couldn't sell out the smallest of stadiums for a semi final v Leicester
Never has a truer word on this forum been said, in a lovely poetic manner as well.playing in a Gloucester team, who also aren't great and are the graveyard of England hopes
FTFY.Sums up Ealing a bit that they couldn't sell out the smallest of stadiums for a semi final v Leicester
Looked like the cheapest standard ticket.wss £40ish yesterday morning, unless I was looking wrong...
TBF with the season as it is and the big ass gap it's also basically a preseason game in a waysPiRiT oF tHe cOmPeTiTiON
Just seen the score at 46 min, glad i watched the u20sThese angles are unwatchable gonna switch to the u20's