As Warren Gatland’s second stint as Wales head coach came to an end in the Roman rain last Saturday afternoon, Gareth Anscombe sat in the stands of the Stadio Olimpico not only unable to have an influence, but also in all likelihood getting soaking wet too.
After being surprisingly left out of his country’s Six Nations squad last month, Anscombe nonetheless decided to make the trip to Italy to watch Gatland’s side in round-two action.
You have to wonder what the experienced fly-half would have been thinking as he watched on. Less than seven days later, Anscombe has swapped an Aperol spritz and a visit to the Colosseum for an immediate return to international rugby’s highest level.
They say a week is a long time in politics. But it is an eternity in the complete and utter madhouse that is Welsh rugby. On the back of 14 straight Test losses, Gatland this week departed as national head coach and, as revealed by, his assistant and close friend Rob Howley also left the set-up on Thursday.
Gatland’s interim replacement, Matt Sherratt, has wasted no time in stamping his authority.
On Thursday, the man known in Welsh rugby circles as ‘Jockey’ quickly hit his stride, calling up Anscombe, his fellow Gloucester back Max Llewellyn, and another No 10 in Jarrod Evans of Harlequins. It points to Anscombe potentially making a quick Wales comeback.
Wales interim coach Matt Sherratt has made some significant changes in the national team
The English specialist called up Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn and Jarrod Evans to the Six Nations squad
Anscombe sat in the stands of the Stadio Olimpico during Wales’ 22-15 defeat by Italy
Grand Slam-chasing Ireland arrive in Cardiff a week on Saturday and Sherratt is likely to make major back-line changes to the sides Gatland fielded in the first two rounds.
Ben Thomas started Wales’ 43-0 and 22-15 defeats by France and Italy respectively as the playmaker. But Sherratt coaches Thomas at his club Cardiff and sees him as a centre.
So, it is likely that for Ireland, Thomas will shift to No 12, possibly with Llewellyn – who has seven tries in the Gallagher Premiership this season – alongside him in midfield.
That would leave a space at fly-half, with Anscombe a leading contender to fill it with Evans and Dan Edwards as his rivals.
Edwards has won his first two Wales caps as a replacement in this year’s Six Nations, while Evans’ last international came in 2021.
The reality is that both Anscombe and Llewellyn should have been in the Welsh squad from the off, especially given their form this season for an upwardly-mobile Gloucester.
Anscombe is undoubtedly the best 10 available to Wales currently. He has Test knowhow too, something badly missing in what is a youthful squad.
Prior to travelling to Italy as a tourist, he worked on his fitness at a solo training camp in Qatar so won’t be lacking match sharpness, even if he might have dabbled in the odd slice of pizza or bowl of pasta last weekend. Anscombe should start against Ireland.
Harlequins’ fly half, Jarrod Evans has also been called into the squad ahead of the Ireland fixture
Wales are suffering a 14-game losing streak in Test matches and are on course for the wooden spoon in the Six Nations
Warren Gatland has departed his role as Wales head coach with immediate effect on Tuesday
Sherratt’s day job will see him coach Cardiff in their United Rugby Championship game with Connacht on Saturday night before he will join up with Wales.
Neil Jenkins, Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw – who were all assistants under Gatland – look set to stay in place for the next three games, although Howley has moved on.
However, the next permanent Wales head coach is likely to want to bring in their own backroom team, so the long-term futures of those men are unclear.
Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney hopes to have a successor to Gatland in place in time for the summer tour matches with Japan.
Michael Cheika, Simon Easterby and Franco Smith are leading contenders for the job, but by the time the next man is in place, Wales might be 17 Tests without a win.
With Ireland, Scotland and England to come, it will be difficult for Sherratt to turn things around immediately.
But his first moves have been promising as he looks to build some confidence back into Wales. Anscombe’s recall is a strong initial building block.
Frankly, he should never have been absent in the first place. Now, Anscombe is set to swap the cheap seats for his boots and an on-field role. And Wales will be the better for it.
