Bath lost out to Newcastle Falcons on Friday and despite the disappointment, Mercer is focused on getting back on track this weekend.

Mercer said: “Everyone was obviously very disappointed with the way the result went, not just as a squad, but also for the supporters who made the trip to Newcastle. That’s not the Bath way and how we look to play rugby, so the next thing we can do is get back on the horse and look forward to Sale on Saturday.

“We had a really good day yesterday understanding what we can do to fix it, and our focus is on making sure our preparation is on point, so that when we go out there at the Rec we can re-write the wrongs.

“Ball retention is the main thing we’ve got to work on – we made some good progress and then made some silly mistakes. We’ve got to keep hold of the ball and put pressure on teams. We realise that when we do that, we can put teams under serious pressure."

Whilst the top four remains well within reach, Mercer is not looking any further than Saturday’s test against a physical Sale side.

“Everyone wants to be in the top four, but all our focus right now is on Sale. We missed out on some points on Friday and we know we need to keep up the pressure.

“Sale are a massive, physical outfit – they pride themselves on scrums and line-outs, so we’ve got to be wary on that front. They’ve also got the backs that can play from anywhere with the likes of James O’Connor, Marland Yarde and Denny Solomona. It’s all about being switched on – I think it’s going to be a very attacking game and both teams will be looking to score points.”

The 20-year-old’s form for Bath earned him a call-up into the England squad for the NatWest Six Nations, an experience which he believes will drive him forward in his quest to secure international honours.

“I’ve learnt a lot from being there, mentally and physically. Just being travelling reserve at the England v Wales game was a huge opportunity, so it was great to be part of it. I’m looking forward to playing well for Bath and hopefully getting back in there to put my hand up for selection.”

Mercer looking for Bath Rugby to bounce back on Saturday

Related News