Guy Mercer will keep Bath honest

So here’s a question. You’ve just jetted in from New Zealand tasked with turning around the talented but clearly underperforming rugby beast that is Bath and you are required to immediately appoint your captain. How exactly to you do that?
Of course you know some of the players by  reputation and have been busy burning the midnight oil back home studying Youtube clips and the 63 match dvds of all Bath’s games in the last two seasons which he had sent down to New Zealand.
And getting the captaincy right is a massive call and sends out a big message. The appointment of Dylan Hartley as the England skipper for example immediately set the tone for Eddie Jones‘ tenure.
So how did new Bath supremo Todd Blackadder go about it? What was his cunning plan? Well ‘luckily’ a few days after he arrived from New Zealand earlier this month Bath played old “rag doll” rivals Llanelli right up in Colwyn Bay.
In best ‘on tour’ style the coach broke down so Blackadder had plenty of extra downtime including an impromptu training session at a motorway services. An ideal opportunity to talk and observe.
“It suited me as I quickly got to know the lads. Picking the captain was a priority and I chatted to most of the senior players and coaches and asked who they considered the best team man, the player who loved the Bath club and city with a passion, who drove people on. The same name kept cropping up. Guy Mercer.
“I’m a big believer in first impressions, acting on instinct and talking to Guy I had already formed a very good impression before so many queued up to sing his praises.
“So in the end it was easy.
“We have plenty of very high quality players and a couple more absolutely outstanding world class internationals have arrived in Taulupe Faletau and Luke Charteris.  What we need is consistency and to achieve that we must have the right environment and culture, a powerful vision of what the club wants to achieve.
“Everybody needs to perform to the best of their ability all the time and must work for each other. The whole squad have to buy into that. Just ticking boxes won’t help Bath.”
Blackadder is particularly aware of the challenges of such a club dynamic after his long reign (2009-16) as coach at the star-studded Crusaders during which time they reached the Super Rugby play-offs on six occasions although, frustratingly, they lost in their two appearances in the final.
At the Crusaders, rafts of players from all-time greats Richie McCaw and Dan Carter downwards would be required for up to 14 New Zealand Tests a year and managing the Canterbury squad wasn’t easy.
Star names might return from Tests battered and fatigued but they are exceptional players and can go to another level if treated sympathetically. Meanwhile loyal stalwarts who provide cover could grow a little resentful if always overlooked for key games.
For Canterbury read Bath with their wagonloads of big players who can expect to spend all November and most of February and March away while the new agreement between Premiership Rugby and the RFU will also require the England players to be stood down occasionally.
“You can have a load of top players, as good as any in the world – and we have some at Bath – but they are only of use if they play like the brilliant players that they are for you,” adds Blackadder. “And for that to happen the entire first team squad must share the same drive and passion for the club and team. Everybody is equal. When the internationals return they have to know what is expected in Bath colours.”
Blackadder has wasted no time addressing the biggest issues. Bath did not produce the goods last season and there is no question some of the bigger names – tired, distracted and, maybe, even depressed after their Test trials and tribulations – fell a little short.
That’s why individuals like Guy Mercer are so important.
They will keep the big names honest and make no mistake if those big names are not ‘good to go’ on any match day they will be rested or just plain dropped for somebody who is in the right frame of mind.
There can be no compromise if Bath are to move forward.
BRENDAN GALLGHER