English star slams Steve Borthwick following Six Nations announcement
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Not happy.
Gloucester back-row Zach Mercer has slammed England boss Steve Borthwick after he was omitted from his Six Nations squad.
Mercer has been in fine form in the Premiership after returning from a stint with Montpellier in France where he shone and helped his former club to the Top 14 title.
The 26-year-old believes Borthwick does not value what he can offer England and is hugely disappointed at the minimal opportunity he’s been offered to make an impression.
Mercer was given three weeks in a training camp with England but failed to make the cut for the Six Nations and the flanker has made his opinion known to Borthwick and the rest of the world.
“I’m older, more mature; I put the international selection aside now; I’m done for the time being with that, and I’m just going to focus on Gloucester,” Mercer told BBC Sport
“To come back and get given three weeks in a training camp, and that was it; I was really disappointed with that.
“I’ve been open with Steve; I’ve told him my opinions on it. I thought I haven’t really been given a crack which is what I feel like, to not even be given a game to try and prove myself is tough.
“I just don’t feel like he values what I can offer as a player, and that’s me being honest, I don’t think he values what I can bring.
“Obviously, I don’t fit into the system that he wants to run, and whether I agree with that or not, it is what it is.
“My focus now is on Gloucester, and England can take a step aside for the moment.”