Gatland not pushing Anscombe

 

Welsh coach, and fellow Kiwi, Warren Gatland has declared that there is no deadline for the versatile player to make up his mind on playing for Wales.

 

Anscombe recently finished off his contract with the Chiefs with their defeat to the Brumbies in a Super Rugby qualifying match.

 

The young and talented back has been in communication with Gatland – who is currently in New Zealand on holiday.

 

“I spoke to him about six months ago and said there was no pressure at all given his age," Gatland told the New Zealand Herald.

 

"But I said, if he wanted to have a crack at making the World Cup squad it would be better if he came over this year."

 

Gatland also spoke of his team's struggles when coming up against southern hemisphere teams, with the hope that Anscombe could provide something different to the set-up.

 

"It's always been the way when we play teams from here. It takes us some time to get going. I'm not sure what the solution is in getting up to speed with the pace, intensity and coping with the physicality.

 

"We should have won the second test [in Nelspruit against the Springboks] and we came away knowing on our day we have the opportunity to be one of the best teams in the world, although there is a gap between all of us and the All Blacks."

 

Gatland also plans to watch the All Blacks over the next few weeks in the Rugby Championship, including their match against Wales' Rugby World Cup pool rivals Australia.

 

"I'll try and get up to Eden Park to see the Wallabies when they come over after the test in Sydney.

 

"Any time you get a close look at teams you find out something useful," added Gatland.