For eight years, Gareth Anscombe was my Wales fly-half rival. After I became first-choice No 10, Gareth was the only player I lost my coveted red shirt to, so in theory I should hate him!
But nothing could be further from the truth.
In the 18 months or so leading up to the 2019 World Cup, Gareth and I had a brilliant professional and personal relationship. He was starting fly-half and I was on the bench, but we worked well together as Wales became world No 1 and went on a 14-match unbeaten run.
Gareth and I loved a moan, mainly over coffee. It’s what rugby players call a ‘sappuccino’!
But we’re great mates and I’m so pleased to see him back in the Wales side after more than a year out for Sunday’s opener with Fiji. ‘We had a good rivalry, but I think we always did it in the right way,’ Gareth told me, as we took a trip down memory lane ahead of a big November for Warren Gatland’s Wales.
I’m glad to see Gareth Anscombe back with Wales for the first time since the Rugby World Cup
He was always my rival at fly-half but it never got personal and he is a big asset for Wales
‘It never got personal. It can be awkward at times as fly-halves. You tend to be dominant figures and big characters. We probably came to a realisation around 2018 that we had different strengths. Gats played on that really well. One started, the other finished.
‘If you could sum up our time together in camp, it would be coffee, kicking and cards!’
As a 10, you always want to start. But I feel lucky looking back now that the two of us were guiding the team during a golden period for Welsh rugby. Gareth’s return will be a big boost to the Wales side of today because of his huge experience.
‘I recognised at one point that the pressure of the shirt had got to you,’ Gareth told me. ‘There is no doubt the Wales 10 jersey can wear you down. It’s a really tough role because you have to drive the side, but also get your own s*** sorted at the same time.
‘You’d done it for so long with Wales that I sensed you were actually rejuvenated a bit by still being able to play a key role, but in a different way off the bench. Even though I’m sure it’s not what you wanted!
‘Competing with you definitely brought the best out of me, but in a good way.’ Gareth’s nickname in the Welsh camp is ‘Chicken’. It is one which followed him from New Zealand and it’s because of his skinny legs.
He very nearly didn’t make it back from the horrific knee injury which meant he missed the 2019 World Cup.
Gareth’s absence meant I reclaimed the number 10 shirt in Japan. ‘One of my biggest career disappointments was missing out on the 2019 World Cup because, between us, I think we had such a good dynamic,’ Gareth told me.
Dan Biggar (pictured) caught up with his old team-mate ahead of a big November for Wales
Anscombe said it does feel ‘weird’ being an ‘elder statesman’ with the national team
‘The team still went on to do special things, but one of my biggest regrets is not being able to see what we could have done in Japan together.’
Gareth and I were Wales team-mates again at last year’s World Cup. When we lost the quarter-final to Argentina in my last Test before retirement, we drowned our sorrows at a beach bar in Nice. We all lost our heads on the back of such a disappointing defeat.
Gareth suffered a groin injury in the warm-up to the pool game with Georgia. It meant he missed all of last season and his planned move to Suntory in Japan was called off. But he’s now back playing some brilliant rugby with Gloucester.
‘I remember that Nice bar,’ said Gareth. ‘You were just necking every pint going and I remember thinking, “Any chance we can get just one sip here?!” To be honest, it feels like a lot of my mates have moved on from Wales now. It is a bit weird being the elder statesman!
‘Everyone knows how much rugby I’ve missed because of injury. It’s been really tough. All of a sudden, I’m now 33. To be honest it does feel like I’ve got unfinished business. But one thing I’m really proud of is that I’ve kept going through all these injuries and never given up.
‘Fiji is a must-win. Maybe that pressure is what this group needs. The group is young and has probably been given some leeway by the public because of that.
‘We need to get a win now. The public is crying out for it. I really don’t think success for Wales is too far away. I’d like to think I can bring a lot to the team so we get that right.
‘The boys here haven’t been used to winning, but there is a really good team in there. We just need to get some confidence back. Hopefully, one win can bring two and then all of a sudden come the Six Nations, we’ll have a happy and confident environment.’
