A constant of Welsh rugby through the years has been a raging debate about who should play at fly-half. Even Cliff Morgan, Barry John and Phil Bennett had their detractors, but lost in the verbal jousting between Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones this week was the former’s decision to play Gareth Anscombe at 10 against England ahead of the more experienced and battle-hardened Dan Biggar.
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It will be only the third start in the position for Anscombe, a New Zealander who qualified for Wales through his mother, confirmation that Wales’s strategy has become more inclusive. When ‘Warrenball’ was at its peak, the combative Biggar and his powerful inside-centre Jamie Roberts were at its heart, prompting their side on the front foot through kicking or charging.
Wales are still physical and direct, but with Anscombe at 10 and Hadleigh Parkes outside him, they have proficient passers. ‘Warrenball’ has been remodelled rather than abandoned, variations on a theme. Anscombe does not have the range of kicking of Biggar, who is on the bench, and he is not as effective in defence, but he stands flatter and widens the point of attack.
“There is always a lot of noise about the outside-half in Wales,” said the 27-year old Anscombe, the top points scorer in the 2011 Junior World Championship who played for the Blues in Auckland then and made the switch to the Blues in south Wales three years later. “It is a topical debate for the Welsh public and media. There are four of us in camp, me, Dan, Rhys Patchell and Jarrod Evans. We have all got different strengths and weaknesses and get on really well. I have been given the chance to represent us as a whole and it is my job to lead the team around.
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Gatland spoke this week about Wales needing to reduce the time Farrell and his half-back partner Ben Youngs had to make decisions. England, apart from a period in Dublin when Tom Curry was in the sin-bin, have been in control in their two matches, never flustered or contemplating the prospect of defeat.
“It is going to be a huge occasion, but we must treat it as just another match,” said Anscombe. “We know what’s coming. They are probably favourites, but we do not need to reinvent the wheel. We have to start well and apply pressure. I have been here a few years and know what we are trying to do with the ball. It is my job to push our game on against England.”