Gloucester ........................ 17pts
Tries: Mercer 6, Llewellyn 11, Hathaway 31
Conversions: Tries: Barton 12
Exeter Chiefs ...................14pts
Vermeulen 60, Vintcent 68 Conversions: Skinner 61, 69
GLOUCESTER supporters must wish Zach Mercer could be snubbed by England every week.
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.
Mercer’s response was to kick into the 22 with the inside of his right boot and so perfectly weighted was his chip that Josh Hathaway only had to pick up the ball to score and the bounce was kind for the wing.
The other two tries came in the first six minutes. Lewis Ludlow scored the first after Mercer’s break and the No 8 then played scrum-half after again breaking the line for Max Llewellyn to cross unopposed.
Mercer did not stop but in standing out showed why England feel they can do without him. He made ground by going around defenders rather than through them, his quick feet allied with the handling skills of a back.
England are looking for someone to storm the gainline, but Exeter would have been more comfortable had Mercer come straight at them. Instead, Gloucester were able to exploit the space behind a blitz defence exposed by Mercer.
Mercer was not alone in his desire. Gloucester have had a contradictory season: this was their 10th victory in 10 cup matches this season, but they have lost 10 of their 13 Premiership matches.
The cup side turned up yesterday, half a yard sharper than Exeter until Rob Baxt
