IT'S TO THE FUTURE ZACH; EUROPEAN RUGBY BENETTON v BATH STADIO COMUNALE DI MONIGO, KO 5.30PM; Mercer told to take tea bags and boot polish to England training but injuries mean Bath star will play a role in Six Nations.

Byline: ALEX SPINK Rugby Correspondent

WHEN Zach Mercer was called up by England in October he was told to bring tea bags and a shoe shine kit.

Eddie Jones gave him and Marcus Smith (below) 'apprentice' status and made clear they were on board to gain experience and not to actually play.

"They'll make the tea, get people's boots, put out the cones, chase balls and practice a little bit at the right time," the England boss said.

With Nathan Hughes in the team and Billy Vunipola on his way back from surgery, Jones saw no need to fast track Bath's young No.8.

Then came the injuries. Hughes misses the first half of the tournament, Vunipola the entirety. The 20-year-old is suddenly next cab off the rank.

"The situation means he's got a shorter apprenticeship than was first envisaged," Jones confirmed.

"He's now fully available for selection. He could get an opportunity during the Six Nations."

Mercer, the son of Leeds and New Zealand rugby league player Gary Mercer, is unfazed, despite it being only 10 months since he was third-choice No.8 at Bath.

"I am pretty good at taking the opportunities if they come around," he said. "As apprentices we didn't sit out training. We were not there just to clean boots.

"We were competing 110 per cent all the time, developing as rugby players. I haven't had to clean anyone's boots yet. I haven't made any tea either.

"The first time at training Eddie cracked a few jokes about it but we took it on the chin. It was about laughing it off and trying to prove him wrong in a good way."

Jones (below) is pleased with Mercer's progress but is keepingChri alf him on his toes by telling him Sam Simmonds and Chris Robshaw are also in contention for the No.8 shirt in Italy a fortnight today.

So Mercer vows to keep working, starting tonight in Treviso where Bath must win with maximum points to stand any chance of Champions Cup survival.

They blew their best opportunity a week ago when destroyed at home by Scarlets.

With only the top three runners-up joining the five pool winners in the quarter-finals, Bath require Scarlets to beat Toulon and deny them a losing bonus point.

Even that would leave them in need of outside assistance on what promises to be a chastening weekend for English clubs.

POOL 1 Pl W D L SDB Pts Ulster . 5 4 0 1 33 1 17 LaRochelle..530 2264 16 Wasps.520 3 144 12 Harlequins5 10 4-733 7 POOL 3 Pl W D L SDB Pts Leinster.5 5 0 0 74 3 23 Exeter.5 3 0 2 28 2 14 Montpellier..5 2 0 3 -24 5 13 Glasgow.5 0 0 5 -78 2 2 POOL 2 Pl W D L SDB Pts Clermont5 4 0 1 44 2 18 Ospreys ..5 2 1 2 21 5 15 Saracens 5 2 1 2 11 3 13 Northampton..5 1 0 4 -76 2 6 POOL 4 Pl W D L SDB Pts Munster..5 3 1 1 35 2 16 Racing92..5 302203 15 Castres 5 2 1 2 -5 2 12 Leicester5 104-502 6 POOL 5 Pl W D L SDB Pts Toulon..5 4 0 1 37 2 18 Scarlets .. 5 3 0 2 36 5 17 Bath..5 3 0 2 11 1 13 Benetton5 005-843 3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP POOLS

CAPTION(S):

CHANCE TO SHINE Mercer is ready to grab his opportunity after injuries to Hughes and Vunipola (left)