Stephen Varney’s last-minute try propelled Gloucester to a remarkable victory, marking their first Premiership win at Leicester Tigers in over 16 years.
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Initially, Zach Mercer and Chris Harris contributed tries to put Gloucester ahead 17-8 at halftime, countered by Tommy Reffell’s try for the Tigers just before the break.
Despite late scoring efforts from Solomone Kata, Jasper Wiese, and Jamie Shillcock, Tigers managed to edge ahead momentarily. Yet, Varney’s decisive try prevented Tigers from securing the second spot.
Notably, Mercer stood out as the undeniable man of the match with his dynamic performance in the back-row.
The Gloucester number eight who said he was “done” with the England team after being overlooked for the Six Nations must be in the summer squad according to TNT pundits.
One fan wrote: “Surely Zach Mercer should, at least, should be in the England Squad – incredible mobility”
A second said: “Mercer is making Borthwick look foolish now. He’s ridiculously good at rugby.”
Another commented: “We are being robbed of a Test Animal in Zach Mercer. Absolutely incredible player!”
THREE PLAYERS BORTHWICK SHOULD CALL-UP THIS SUMMER:
England and the Brave Blossoms will face off in their first ever test hosted in Tokyo, Japan this year in the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup on Saturday, 22 June 2024. The two nations have played three Test matches against one another but this will be the first time Japan has the home field advantage.
The Roses will then face New Zealand in Dunedin on July 6 and at Eden Park a week later. Two mouthwatering occasions not to be missed as England will seek to beat last year’s Rugby World Cup runner-up.
Below, we look at three players Borthwick should call-up.
#1. Cadan Murley
Harlequins’ winger Murley burst onto the scene in 2018, swiftly solidifying his place in the Premiership club’s starting lineup. Since then, he’s been an integral part of the team, notably contributing to their triumph in the 2021 Gallagher Premiership.
Despite being just 24 years old, Murley boasts an impressive 106 appearances for his club, with 48 tries to his name. A striking average of 0.5 tries per game cements his status as one of the most lethal wingers in global club rugby.
Murley’s talent was evident early on when he represented England at the U18 level in 2017, showcasing his scoring prowess against formidable opponents like France and Ireland. He furthered his international journey by donning the English jersey at the U20s level as well.
Speaking on Murley, Borthwick said: “Cadan Murley has an ability to score tries and find his way to the try line. He can beat defenders in. the smallest space possible, has power to be able to come off both feet, plays at 14 and 11, and then accelerate in such a small space.”