Gloucester fly-half Anscombe hopes for Wales call
Written by I Dig SportsIn Anscombe's absence and with Dan Biggar retiring from international rugby after the World Cup, young fly-halves Sam Costelow, Ioan Lloyd and Ben Thomas have filled the Wales number 10 shirt in the last 12 months.
"It is a position that demands attention," said Anscombe.
"It is the quarter-back spot and can come with massive highs and lows.
"I sympathise with some of the boys who have gone through it over the years. I have gone through it, it's almost like a rite of passage."
Scarlets pair Costelow and Lloyd started the Six Nations matches, while Thomas, normally a centre with Cardiff, was handed the fly-half responsibility for the three summer Tests against South Africa and Australia.
"It is important for young 10s to have time in the saddle, to be in the front line making decisions and trying things out," Anscombe added.
"Unfortunately it is going to be a position where you can get some things wrong and it is quite often played out publicly. There can be big mistakes that lead to points in games.
"So we have to be careful about how we look after the young boys in that sense and can probably give them a bit more grace.
"I think some of the boys are resilient and am sure they will be around for years to come."
Anscombe accepts the loss of a generation of established internationals in the last 18 months has not helped young Wales fly-halves.
"What probably hasn't helped the younger crop is the Wales team has changed so much since the last World Cup," said Anscombe.
"We have lost so much quality seasoned professionals and they have been chucked into the cauldron with a lot of youngsters next to them.
"With Wales one of the biggest challenges is they have had to change so much personnel."
Watch Scrum V Live on BBC One Wales on Sunday, 13 October for a full feature of Welsh players at Gloucester. Programme starts at 14:15 BST as Dragons face Lions at Rodney Parade.