Anscombe agony will finally end next month
GARETH Anscombe is scheduled to start his longawaited come back next month after a two-year fight to save his career.
The architect-in-chief of Wales’ 2019 Grand Slam is understood to be closer to playing again than at any time since his last match, against England at Twickenham two years ago this very weekend.
Since then Anscombe has endured two major knee operations and the mental anguish of recurring delays which made him a non-starter for the World Cup and the Lions. They also explain why he has still to make his debut for the Ospreys despite joining them on a threeyear contract from Cardiff in July 2019 after rejecting an offer to stay at the Arms Park.
“Gareth’s knee is fine and the medics expect him to be fit for the start of the new season in the middle of next month,’’ a senior Ospreys source told The Rugby Paper yesterday. “He’s in good nick and he says he can’t wait to get back out there and start enjoying himself.
“After such a long time, he’s almost there. And that’s really great news not only for our fans but for Welsh rugby as a whole.’’
Ospreys kick-off their pre-season fixtures against Hartpury College on September 4 followed by a trip to Northampton six
days later. Anscombe, now 30, will need a long overdue run free from further injury if he is to regain Test status.
Before that fateful preWorld Cup match at Twickenham, he had established himself as Wales’ first-choice No. 10, contributing 43 points to the Six Nations’ clean sweep and removing any lingering doubts with seven goals in the Grand Slam clincher against Ireland.
Having watched Wales play 28 matches in his absence, Anscombe’s longterm objective of playing his way back into the Test arena will require still more patience and endurance.
He will need the fairest of winds at his back to be in with a realistic shout
for Wales’ next match, against the All Blacks in Cardiff on October 30. The reigning Six Nations champions are resigned to being without three other long-term casualties for the entire autumn series.
The Lions trio of George North, Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny are at various stages of their recovery from knee and shoulder surgery. Ospreys do not expect North to be playing again until the final weeks of the year.
Tipuric, whose smashed shoulder against Japan at Murrayfield forced him to miss the Lions series, aims to be fit for Wales’ defence of their European title next February.
Halfpenny, whose 100th Test against Canada last month ended in the opening minute with a shattering knee injury, faces a recovery time of between nine and twelve months. Barring a miracle, that leaves him facing the grim prospect of missing an entire Six Nations for the third time in six years.
Wales sold 20,000 tickets during the first hour of public sale for the All Blacks fixture. “There has been something missing and we will be delighted to welcome fans back for a series which will see many of the superstars of world rugby in Cardiff,’’ says WRU chief executive Steve Phillips. “A packed-out series will be symbolic of things returning to normal in Welsh rugby.’’