It’s been a long time coming, but the prospect of Gareth Anscombe finally becoming the first choice Wales No.10 has never looked closer. Four years since he left New Zealand, the full benefits of that Welsh-born mother should finally pay off, says Harri Morgan.
It’s possible to experience a certain joy when watching a maligned investment transition into a dead set winner.
There is a sense of deep satisfaction derived not only from the validation of an ability to recognise strong fundamentals, but also from an outcome that vindicates all that patience and trust.
It’s the reward for sticking with a journey despite a chorus of doubt.
Perhaps, this is how I might have felt had Fabio Borini guided me to fantasy football glory, in one of the years where, in retrospect, my faith was blind and his particular set of skills were on the ordinary side of average.
Such patience and trust, on the part of both coach and player, run deep in the narrative of Gareth Anscombe’s time in Welsh rugby.
When Warren Gatland combined blunt Kiwi charm with a loaded Welsh cheque book to lure Anscombe across to the land of his mother, a brief and objective piece of analysis would have concluded that he had recruited a talent capable of a quick rise to stardom with the national side.
In 2011, Anscombe steered the Baby Blacks to the junior World Cup title, in a side that featured Beauden Barrett at full-back and Lima Sopoaga at centre.
Two years on, and he was proving the versatility of his own skill set, as run-on full back for the championship winning Waikato Chiefs team of 2013. These were credible credentials.
Anscombe’s first season in Wales ended with him deputising for the injured Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams in the 15 jersey as Wales were dumped out of the 2015 World Cup at the quarter-final stage by South Africa.
His gateway to the team had been opened by injury, but when called upon, his contribution raised questions over his competency.
In the period between Wales exiting the World Cup at the hands of the Springboks and their return to Twickenham to face the old foe in the second game of the 2018 Six Nations, Anscombe only amassed a further 10 caps.
Seven of those came off the bench, with starts against Japan, Tonga and Samoa – not quite the return either the player or the Welsh management had in mind.
The Cardiff Blues man was a regular in national squads without posing a genuine threat to the establishment. There was a negative correlation between time spent on the treatment table and quality of form on the field, a contributory factor to this period on the periphery.
The decibels of doubt were on the rise.
When Halfpenny withdrew from the starting XV to face England, back in February of this year, Anscombe was the beneficiary. It was an upturn in luck for a player who was due a touch.
Anscombe was involved in the contest’s decisive exchange. But the tip of his finger, pressed down on the ball in the opposition in goal area, was deemed insufficient evidence for a try to be awarded.
If TMO Glenn Newman’s decision was Wales’ cloud that day, the performance of their 11th hour full-back cum fly-half was the silver lining. His balance and turn of speed made the playmaker an incisive point of difference in a Welsh attack that was ultimately unable to capitalise on the opportunities created.
The doubters took a long swig before embarking on a monologue about never doubting his ability. At least, that’s how I played it.
How can a single performance cause such a shift in opinion? To answer to that would require us to lift the lid on a Pandora’s box. The psyche of the Welsh rugby fan is more dissertation than blog post.
If it was the bolt of pace from the Cardiff Blue that had impressed at Twickenham, his next headline moment was more about the nuts as he slotted a match-winning goal from way out wide to win the European Challenge Cup for his region.
Doubters, what doubters?
Returning from the summer tour of the Americas, Anscombe may have felt disappointed with a return of one start from three games.
Gatland preferred the Scarlets’ Rhys Patchell for the back-to-back victories over the Argentine Pumas – who closer resembled a sedated beast – and Anscombe was forced to fulfil a role of watching tourist.
On the evidence of his early season games any such disappointment has been channelled positively.
If Anscombe’s form last season dragged him from the periphery, his efforts this term – whether at 10 or 15 – have put him on the brink of the front line. His try against Lyon in round one of the Heineken Champions Cup was one for the highlights reel.
The question marks that once loomed over competency have now shifted to how the player who once wanted to be an All Black can best be utilised by Wales.
As a full-back, he not only brings a running game but also offers the Welsh attack a second playmaker, albeit this is a strategy that the management have retreated from since Owen Williams’ stint in the 12 shirt last autumn. Remember him?
The major barrier to entry that exists on any claim to the 15 spot is a certain Halfpenny. Contact Mr. L. Williams of Saracens for further details.
At 10, Gatland must determine what style of admiral he wants to steer his ship at next year’s World Cup.
Is he willing to sacrifice the game management, leadership and defensive ferocity of Dan Biggar in favour of Anscombe or Patchell, who possess superior attacking weaponry in and around the gain line, an arsenal that most critics deem a prerequisite for Wales reaching the ‘next level’?
With Biggar unlikely to be released by Northampton, and Patchell’s early season concussion issues, it would seem that by default the 10 jersey will be hung on Anscombe’s peg for the inaugural Doddie Weir Cup clash against Scotland on November 3.
Whilst this represents a great opportunity to establish himself as the clubhouse leader, it is pertinent to remember that possession is a good deal lower than nine tenths of Gatland’s selection law.
The third and final option for deployment would be to chuck Anscombe a onesie sub suit and a pack of sports mix – the essentials for any good bench-dweller, sorry, finisher.
Yes, he’s versatile but it is more his ability to break the opposition defence open that renders him a leading candidate for the super sub gig – a role that in the modern game has become as important as it is unwanted.
Just as Damian McKenzie does for the All Blacks, Anscombe has the playmaking ability to join the fray and switch between ball-playing first receiver, ‘out the back’ distributor, and gliding ball runner in the edge channels. That’s an ability which casts fear into the lead-laden legs of fatigued defenders.
Oh so often when the Welsh management look down from the stand they see a bench devoid of individuals who can jump in and cause a bit of carnage. Productive carnage, of course. Ole Gunnar Anscombe changes that.
The one time “Kiwi import” has shown a classy level of resilience to win over his now fellow Welshmen.
Now, he must consistently show his class on the world stage, whatever the assignment.