GARETH Anscombe is expecting a black and red fan club when he returns to New Zealand next week.
The Celtic Kiwi reckons half his old mates will turn up to cheer him on for Wales, but admits some could never do anything other than back the All Blacks.
Anscombe, 25, will battle with Dan Biggar for the No.10 shirt on a daunting Wales tour that includes three Tests and a clash with his former team, Waikato Chiefs.
“My family will be firmly in red but I’ve got a fair few mates who want to be there, too, and their loyalties might be a bit divided,” says the Cardiff Blues fly-half.
“I don’t think they know who to support. But I can’t worry about that. When I get an opportunity, I have to grab it with both hands.
“My old man (Mark) won’t actually be there because he is coaching Canada now. But the rest of the family are pretty excited by it and they are already trying to buy tickets.”
Anscombe was a World Cup winner at U20 level with New Zealand – the Baby Blacks – before opting to move to Wales to chase senior honours thanks to his Welsh-born mother.
But it has taken him two years to find his best form after injuries and experimentation at full-back and it is only now he is putting real pressure on Biggar for his Wales starting spot.
“Hopefully, I can put my hand up and get a crack over there. We will just have to wait and see what the selectors have in mind.
“I’m certainly a lot happier at the Blues than last season. We are now playing a brand of rugby that suits my style more and that I enjoy.
“It’s nice to get a run of games at 10. I’m more than happy to fill in at 15 but everyone knows where I see myself and the Wales selectors see my future there as well.
“But there’s tough competition all over the place with Dan Biggar, Rhys Priestland and a few others sniffing around, so I’ve got to play well and be consistent.”
Anscombe, who is likely to be on the bench when Wales play England at Twickenham on Sunday, believes New Zealand’s state of transition means that, for once, the world champions could be vulnerable.
“Losing legends of the game such as Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ma’a Nonu, who were all once-in-a-generation world-class players, is bound to hurt the All Blacks.
“But they’ve still got a lot of experience and they keep churning out good youngsters who are going well on the world stage.
“Wales have a hell of a battle on their hands but it’s a great opportunity to set yourself against the best.
“We’ve got to carry on from the Six Nations. We finished the tournament well so we have to play some rugby and throw the kitchen sink at them.”
