Anscombe: Signs for the Chiefs
The defending champion Chiefs have signed discarded Blues fly-half Gareth Anscombe for next year's Super Rugby campaign.
The 21-year-old has been one of the form pivot's in this year's ITM Cup with Auckland, but was surprisingly de-listed from the Blues by new coach Sir John Kirwan.
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie is likely to employ Anscombe as a back-up to All Blacks playmaker Aaron Cruden.
"We initially were not looking for a first-five, but when a player of Gareth's quality becomes available, we were quick to snap him up," said Rennie.
Anscombe has played two seasons with the Blues and this is his third ITM Cup campaign with Auckland. He is comfortably the leading points scorer in the competition with 156 points.
He was also the top point scorer at the 2011 junior world championship.
Comments
sukkadoits says...
@UBA05 since the contracting system changed a few years back, every player is fair game to franchises. Rennie and co. have said they weren't even in the market for a no.10 so i take that to mean they did not table a serious offer for Kerr, the thought being Horrell would be the back up 10. I suspect Baden Kerr got the juiciest offer from the Blues and Auckland is closer to his homestead too. Subsequently Rennie said that Anscombe was too gooder prospect, and probably too cheap to let go so signed him. I believe the shift in thinking means Horrell will now be only a midfield option, probably the 1st choice 12 IMO if Kahui is fit.
@markpat I think it will be good for Anscombe. At 21, he has time to sit behind an All Black for a season and hone his craft. Cruden and Wayne Smith also a privy to much of Carter's teachings/learnings.
@passtheball I don't think you can question the recruiting tactics of Rennie. Cruden, Tameifuna, Retallick, Horrell, Mo Schwalger, Kane Thompson turned out to be big game players for the Chiefs. Of course SBW too. Rennie and Smith are huge stats men and they know exactly what each player brings, and the off field prerequisite of being a 'good bugger' is just as huge. Horrell and Ngatai are not full backs, and it is the Blues chasing Mils.
Posted 11:27 09th October 2012
passtheball says...
UBAO5 -- Rennie and Smith have no association with the member unions. Rennie is taking U20 players that he likes and ignoring those he doesn't. The member unions have plenty of players who might make the grade. I'm not sure they are recruiting right. They currently have Robinson, TNW, Horrell and now Charlie N and it seems they are chasing Mils - that's 5 fullbacks! Renata, who is playing well, is not even needed in the WTG. Still they did OK last year so we shall see.
Posted 12:46 08th October 2012
markpat says...
Good for the chiefs, but not sure it's a great move for Anscombe. He'll sit behind a young fly half, which means, barring injury, he'll see little playing time and Cruden is too young for Anscombe to learn from, as Cruden is still learning, himself.
Posted 11:05 08th October 2012
hayj05 says...
His axing may have well turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Get dropped by the underperforming Blues & get picked up by the current Super Rugby champions who have two of the most talented coaches in NZ Rugby.
Posted 10:54 08th October 2012
UBA05 says...
Am i in the twillight zone?? No offence anscombe boy but i rate Baden kerr (counties manukau 1st five) higher. Kirwan's recent sighning of him over anscombe seems to suggest that he rates him higher as well. Isnt Counties, a chiefs member union???? So Rennie let a quality up and coming 1st five from a member union go to the blues and jumped to sign unwanted scraps from the aforementioned blues???
I'm not sure whether baden was offered a chiefs contract but opted for the blues due to cruden's prescence at the chiefs and the fact that he will probably start at the blues.
I know you won us the S15 but i hope you didnt sleep on this one Rennie!! Please note that the chiefs only had cruden as a quality 1st five even though i must confess to not knowing if Andrew Horrell is any good at the position, so that is why i am probably sounding dramatic.
I would love to get Chiefs fans' opinion on this
Posted 10:27 08th October 2012
sukkadoits says...
Rennie knows Anscombe well and knows what he's capable of. He was developing nicely till last year when he was robbed of his confidence both with sparse 1st team selection and also having to cede decision making to Weepu. Of course he was subsequently injured but I believe that would not of occurred had he been given his due time in the saddle. Wayne Smith will do wonders with this boy. He will be the anti-Cruden player for the Chiefs, totally different type but complimentary within the squad. Great for wet weather, and also for closing out games.
Posted 10:09 08th October 2012
tweedledee49 says...
I hope he gets some game time, i dont remember Cruden ever being substituted this year.
Anyways, good to have him as back up to Cruden, this guy has a huge future.
Posted 09:06 08th October 2012
jonesy2 says...
welcome aboard
Posted 07:36 08th October 2012