Fit-again Anscombe can't wait to pull the strings for Gloucester

GARETH Anscombe has been charged with helping propel Gloucester up the Premiership table, a task the Wales outside-half is relishing nearly a year after he played his last match.

- PAUL REES

Anscombe was on a high after Wales beat Australia 40-6 in the World Cup last September to seal their place in the quarter-finals, coming off the bench after 10 minutes to replace the injured Dan Biggar and bagging a haul of 23 points.

He then suffered a groin injury during the warm-up for the next match against Georgia. It proved more serious than first thought and required surgery, meaning he was unable to take up his contract with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath and the closest he got to the field last season was behind a microphone.

“It has been quite a while since I last played and I just want to get back out there,” said the 33-year old Anscombe, who has joined Gloucester along with his Wales half-back partner Tomos Williams, right. “It was a really difficult time and a waste of a season after I had missed so much rugby.

“I just hope the time off I have had in recent years gives me some runs on the board at the back end of my career. Look at Johnny Sexton who last year showed he was one of the best outside-halves in the world (at the age of 38) having been well managed. I do not have the miles in my legs as other guys of my age.”

Gloucester finished one off the bottom of the Premiership last season and at one point suffered a record nine successive defeats. Part of the reason for bringing in Anscombe and Williams was to provide experience as well as pedigree in key positions.

“Playing in the Premiership was a box I have wanted to tick for a few years,” said Anscombe, who started his career in his native New Zealand before joining Cardiff Blues 10 years ago. “I had opportunities in the past but turned them down because I wanted to continue my international career.