Wales head coach Warren Gatland has included New Zealand-born fly-half Gareth Anscombe in his 34-player squad for the RBS 6 Nations.
Anscombe has only been in Wales for three months, yet has still managed to impress in his short time with the Cardiff Blues. In previous meetings, he left an impression on Gatland, who then decided to award the 23-year-old his first international cap.
“I met Gareth 12 months ago and we had a chat and with his mother born in Cardiff we knew he was an option,” said the head coach. “It was an open discussion and there was no pressure from us.”
Wales will be looking to regain the Championship after back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, but surprisingly will be without 95-cap prop Adam Jones, Owen Williams and James Hook. Nevertheless, Gatland defended Anscombe’s appointment.
“Mentally Gareth is tough,” Gatland said. “I had a quick chat to Wayne Smith and he couldn’t have spoken more highly of him. They were very impressed by him as an individual and when that recommendation comes from a person like him you listen.”
Anscombe’s fellow uncapped squad members are teenager Tyler Morgan, Blues hooker Kristian Dacey and Scarlets prop Rob Evans.
WALES SIX NATIONS SQUAD:
Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Bath), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon)