>Montpellier Back-Rower Zach Mercer has had his red card rescinded following a recent disciplinary hearing, and faces no ban from the incident. Mercer was sent off for a shoulder-to-head collision with Exeter Chiefs' Christ Tshiunza, in last weekend's Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 clash.
After a lengthy TMO review, which saw the Sandy Park faithful react with cries of 'oooooh!' to each replay, Mercer was dismissed for the collision. However, rugby fans soon voiced their disagreeing opinions, as the collision was not at a great deal of force, which called for some level of mitigation from the referee.
Andrew Brace was the referee on the day, with his decision sending the 25-year-old to the stands, just 10 minutes in the second half. After Mercer saw red, he spoke to Brace and voiced his frustrations "come on bro, my knees are bent!"
Thankfully, Mercer will not miss any more action for Montpellier, as the former Bath man will be back in action this weekend again Castres. The Southern France side were eliminated from the Champions Cup, and turn their full focus to the Top 14 league.
Paolo Garbisi's later penalty took the Chiefs to extra time, and Montpellier took the lead and looked to be through to the quarter finals. However, Jack Yeandle's last minute try, and Joe Simmonds equalising conversion sent the Chiefs through to the last eight on tries scored (5-4).
How England should line-up for World Cup:
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14. Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens) for Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby) for Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
A frustrated Ollie Lawrence of England during the Guinness Six Nations match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 11th March 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
11. Christian Wade (Racing 92) for Henry Arundell (London Irish)
He’s since impressed in the Top 14 so much that former teammate Danny Cipriani believes he’s the best English winger in the world.
The fly-half wrote on Twitter: “This fella has left the country, had 4 years in a serious professional sport, come back and is still the best winger in England.
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
9. Raddi Quirke (Sale Sharks) for Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
Raffi Quirke of England on the break to go over for a try during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs) for Jamie George (Saracens)
Exeter Chiefs player Luke Cowan-Dickie during the warm up before Gallagher Premiership Match between Wasps and Exeter Chiefs at the Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry on October 16th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) for David Ribbans (Northampton Saints)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) for Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Tom Curry of England during the Autumn Nations International Series match between England and South Africa at Twickenham, London on 26 November 2022 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
7. Jack Willis (Toulouse)
8. Zach Mercer (Montpellier) for Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Zach Mercer of Bath Rugby looks dejected after losing during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Sale Sharks at the Recreation Ground on 14 May. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
The rugby equivalent of taking a wicket with a rank long hop
This 'cross-kick' from Antoine Gibert salvaged by a remarkable burst from Christian Wade
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