Wales
Gatland: Anscombe under no pressure to make decision
ESPN Staff
July 20, 2014
The Chiefs' Gareth Anscombe has been linked with a move to Cardiff Blues © Getty Images
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Wales head coach Warren Gatland has insisted Gareth Anscombe has not been given a deadline to switch his national allegiance.

Anscombe, who has appeared for New Zealand's U20s, bowed out of Super Rugby action on Saturday after his Chiefs side went down to the Brumbies 32-30 in Canberra. The fly-half has been heavily linked with a move to Cardiff Blues, giving him the chance to represent Wales at the 2015 World Cup.

Gatland, who is currently in New Zealand, revealed he had been in contact with Anscombe about a spot in Wales' World Cup squad, with the 23-year-old qualifying through his mother.

"I spoke to him about six months ago and said there was no pressure at all given his age," Gatland told the New Zealand Herald.

"But I said if he wanted to have a crack at making the World Cup squad it would be better if he came over this year."

Gatland revealed that he plans to watch the All Blacks over the next few weeks, including their match against Wales' World Cup pool rivals Australia, while he also admitted his side felt aggrieved after their tour to South Africa last month.

"I'll try and get up to Eden Park to see the Wallabies when they come over after the test in Sydney. Any time you get a close look at teams you find out something useful," Gatland said.

"It's always been the way when we play teams from here. It takes us some time to get going. I'm not sure what the solution is in getting up to speed with the pace, intensity and coping with the physicality.

"We should have won the second test [in Nelspruit] and we came away knowing on our day we have the opportunity to be one of the best teams in the world, although there is a gap between all of us and the All Blacks."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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