S&C guru PJ helping Mercer hit new PBs in the gym
HUMAN dynamo Zach Mercer insists he is bigger and stronger as he bids to underpin Bath’s title charge and boost his England chances.
Capped twice last year, the ambitious 22-year-old has benefitted from a new S&C regime and aims to be a more dominant presence. Mercer told The Rugby
Paper: “The S&C side has been our biggest improvement. There’s been a freshness about our fitness work and PJ Wilson has come in from Munster and astonished me with how he’s gone about things.
“I’ve got a great relationship with him and it makes you want to push harder and harder. It makes you want to achieve and my gym work has gone up massively. It’s just pure strength really, what weights you’re lifting and the like.
“My aim is to be more dominant around the park, and dominance in the tackle is something I’ve always worked on. I felt I made big improvements last year, so now it’s about achieving consistency and performing every week.
“I’ve got my base level as high as it can be and I’m ready to show what I can do.”
Mercer is two games away from his 50th Premiership appearances and with Toby Faletau, Francois Louw, Sam Underhill and Miles Reid currently unavailable, the Yorkshireman is set for another hefty stint in Bath’s back row.
He said: “Getting to 48 Premiership games is pretty mental considering I’ve only been a pro for three years. I’ve looked around the group and I’m one of the most experienced people in the forward pack – at 22, that’s just amazing.
“There are guys missing but when you look at our squad we’ve still got Tom Ellis, Mike Williams, Josh Bayliss and myself. I’ll just get my head down now, work really hard and do everything I can to make this club successful.
Bigger picture-wise, Mercer is eager to be part of England’s post-World Cup plans, along with other Bath hopefuls such as Charlie Ewels and Tom Dunn.
“If the opportunity comes to represent England again, I’ll be glad to take it. It doesn’t just happen, I had to work very hard for my two caps and I’m prepared to do it again. Let’s just bring the league season on.”