ZACH MERCER was not playing for England in November because of the RFU’s policy on selecting overseas players but, thanks to France coach Fabien Galthié, he was not entirely absent from the international scene.
The Montpellier No 8 has clearly made an impression on Galthié, who has even joked with him that he wishes Mercer were French. But their most recent meeting got him playing for another side – with Galthié pulling some strings to secure Mercer a call-up for the Barbarians against an All Blacks XV.
The France coach had enjoyed his own experience with the Barbarians in the summer, overseeing their thumping win against England at Twickenham, and when he heard that Mercer might fancy a crack at playing in the famous black-and-white jersey, he was straight on the phone to make it happen.
Mercer explains: “Fabien was watching Montpellier train and I got speaking to him afterwards. I asked him how he enjoyed coaching the Baa-Baas and he told me that he loved it.
