Gareth Anscombe makes long-awaited Wales return for New Zealand clash

Gareth Anscombe, who was born in New Zealand, suffered a major knee injury during a World Cup warm-up game in August 2019

Gareth Anscombe of Ospreys. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Hiscott

Gareth Anscombe will make his first Wales appearance for more than two years in Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series opener against New Zealand.

The Ospreys fly-half, who was born in New Zealand and qualifies for Wales via his mother, suffered a major knee injury during Wales’ World Cup warm-up game against England in August 2019.

But he has won head coach Wayne Pivac’s vote for the number 10 shirt in a line-up that sees 21-year-old Dragons flanker Taine Basham handed a first international start, while Scarlets backs Johnny McNicholl and Johnny Williams also feature.

Anscombe, who has won 27 caps, returned to action last month and has started three Ospreys matches in the United Rugby Championship.

However, barely 30 minutes after the team was officially announced for Saturday’s clash, Wales head coach Wayne Pivac revealed British and Irish Lions forward Ken Owens had failed a fitness test.

Owens, sidelined by a back problem that will require a scan, has been replaced in the starting line-up by his fellow Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias, with uncapped Cardiff player Kirby Myhill providing bench cover.

With the Principality Stadium clash falling outside World Rugby’s autumn international window, Wales are minus England-based players like Dan Biggar, Taulupe Faletau and Louis Rees-Zammit because they are not released by their clubs.

A number of key personnel are absent through injuries, with other Lions George North, Josh Navidi and Justin Tipuric all currently sidelined, while centre Willis Halaholo is isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 and Liam Williams is recovering from appendix surgery.

Basham packs down in an all-Dragons back-row alongside Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright, Adam Beard partners captain Alun Wyn Jones at lock and Tomos Williams is Anscombe’s half-back partner.

Jones, who has also played in 12 Tests for the British and Irish Lions, wins his 149th Wales cap to overtake former New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw’s total for one country.

“The reality is we are two years away from a Rugby World Cup, and we are building towards that. We’ve got a Six Nations around the corner to defend, and try to win that tournament again," said head coach Pivac.

“Every young Welsh player when they are growing up wants to play at the Principality in front of 75,000, and if you ask them who they want to play against, New Zealand would be one of the top couple of sides they would choose.

“To win a World Cup, you have to play against teams like New Zealand at some stage in the tournament, and you have to win those games."