Gatland is Wales’ best ever coach - Anscombe

Gareth Anscombe says that Warren Gatland has “got to go down as Wales’ best coach” ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Ireland.

Victory for fly-half Anscombe and company would secure Wales the Six Nations title and a third Grand Slam of New Zealander Gatland’s reign.

No coach in history has masterminded three Five or Six Nations clean sweeps, but Gatland is now 80 minutes away from potentially achieving that.

It is also his final Six Nations game as Wales boss – he steps down after the World Cup in Japan later this year – and Anscombe has no doubt how highly he rates.

“He has got to go down as Wales’ best coach,” said Anscombe, whose parents will travel from New Zealand to watch Saturday’s Cardiff encounter.

“It is hard to go past his record and what he has accomplished – the fact that we are going for another Grand Slam that would be his third.

“He has just got the ability to get the best out of everyone, and as a player, one thing he does do is give you a belief to win.

“He really does leave no doubt in your mind that the team will get the job done. That’s what he did in the lead-up to the England game (Wales won 21-13).

“He has an exceptional ability to get the boys up for what we are doing. I am sure he will know the buttons to push this week.

“He deserves to go out with this.”