Wales Confirm Anscombe as Goal Kicker for Fiji Clash

In the lead-up to Wales’ upcoming clash with Fiji, head coach Warren Gatland has confirmed that Gareth Anscombe will take on the goal-kicking duties this weekend. Anscombe, who has earned 37 international caps over the past nine years, has adapted his game after recovering from a serious knee injury that sidelined him for two seasons between 2019 and 2021.

“He won’t like me saying this, but he has lost a yard or two of pace from where he was,” Gatland acknowledged. “Whereas in the past he was able to cover that full-back position, he brings a lot of confidence and self-belief into the squad, and his communication with the players has been important from a leadership perspective.”

Anscombe’s inclusion in the starting lineup will allow Ben Thomas to shift from fly-half, a role he filled during Wales’ summer tour of Australia, to his more familiar inside center position. This new-look midfield partnership with Max Llewellyn is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to the Welsh attack.

“I think he [Thomas] has been playing well,” said Gatland. “He’s got a good balance to his game, he’s not afraid to carry the ball to the line, and he looks like a player who has time on the ball, which helps his decision-making. We know there’s not a huge amount of space in international rugby, and he has the ability to shift the ball.”

Gatland has opted for a lean bench, naming only two replacement backs, including Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow. “Hopefully Gareth goes out and gives a good performance, but Sam has been training exceptionally well and starting to develop a good understanding of the game,” the coach explained. “We feel confident Gareth can get through the game, but also we’ve got someone who can come on and hopefully add something to the performance.”

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