The No.8, who was left out of the A squad last week, reacted to being overlooked for the Six Nations by letting rip in a radio interview.
Did his words count against him or his playing style? He did his talking on the pitch yesterday, shouting at the top of his voice from the kick-off as he led Gloucester to a 17-point lead at the interval.
Mercer was involved in their three tries in the opening period with the third a contender for try of the season. Gloucester looked in trouble when they lost possession in their 22, but Cam Jordan got hold of the ball and when Mercer received it 75 metres out, he only had one thought.
He shrugged off the challenge of outside-half Harvey Skinner and set off. He got over the halfway line as Exeter, who had found themselves scrambling in defence for much of the half, tried to cut off his passing lines on the left.
This story is from the February 18, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 18, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
West are best as Joe settles historic clash
IN what is first for rugby in England, North Rugby hosted a State of Origin style game between a select side from Regional 1 NW and NE respectively.
England's hopes are high after Six Nations
Six Nations winners England go into the tournament as one of the clear favourites, with Mark Mapletoft’s side eyeing up a first World Championship title since 2016.
Woodman back to fire up Wales
Wales are thankful they can call upon the services of captain Ryan Woodman for the tournament after the talented back row missed the Six Nations through injury.
Five-day schedule will not be easy
AS A team, we’ve come off a big high of winning the Six Nations, so naturally we have confidence in ourselves going into the World Cup.
I was offered a NFL trial but it was too big a risk
When I was 16, in my first season for Colston’s, I dislocated and broke my ankle and broke my leg playing in a festival up in Tynedale.
SpongeBob glad of his place in the Oldies XV
TWENTY years ago this very week on the banks of the Clyde, New Zealand won the Junior World Cup, trouncing Ireland in the final.
Clarke on rampage as Blues take gold
ALL BLACK Caleb Clarke put in an outstanding threetry showing to steal the headlines as the Blues won their first Super Rugby title for 21 years in mesmeric fashion.
Sing is on song for a double triumph
GLOUCESTER-Hartpury head coach Sean Lynn admitted he was ‘over the moon’ after his side made it back-to-back title wins in the Premiership Women’s Rugby with victory over Bristol Bears.
Why less might not be more for stars
MARTIN Johnson spent a rugby eternity perfecting his survival skills in the engine room of the scrum – the nearest thing big-time sport has to a circle of Hell, being dark and sulphurous and generally infernal – but, unlike Dante’s damned souls, he emerged into the light with a full set of glittering prizes: domestic titles, European titles, the England captaincy, the Lions captaincy, Triple Crowns, Grand Slams, a World Cup winner’s medal.
Wales show spirit but Springboks just have too much in reserve
THE Mexican Wave, always an indication of the importance and intensity of the occasion, started as early as the 50th minute as the crowd realised that the first winning of the Qatar Airways Cup was of no real relevance.
