From Rugby Heaven:
Gareth Anscombe's much-speculated move to Welsh rugby appears to be gathering pace with the Chiefs utility grabbing headlines there.
Anscombe's availability for Wales - he qualifies through his Cardiff-born mother Tracey - makes him a prime target.
WalesOnline was today trumpeting the 23-year-old as an "expected arrival" at Cardiff to link with the club's new Kiwi boss, former Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett.
The Chiefs, clinging tenuously to hopes of a Super Rugby championship three-peat, clearly don't hold strong hopes of keeping the backline utility.
Coach Dave Rennie admitted late last week that Anscombe hadn't signed a new contract at the Hamilton-based franchise.
Stuck behind Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade in the All Blacks pecking order at No 10, the versatile Anscombe also has Israel Dagg and Ben Smith in front of him as preferred test fullbacks.
Wales' Kiwi coach Warren Gatland has already met Anscombe and if the talented youngster is to be part of their World Cup plans for next year's tournament, he needs to get a club season under his belt there.
WalesOnline was even suggesting Anscombe could be fast-tracked into the Welsh national setup for the November 8 clash against the Wallabies in Cardiff.
They argue Anscombe would get a red test jersey, something the goalkicking utility will have found hard to dismiss in his long-term thinking.
Rhys Priestland, Dan Biggar and James Hook have failed to make the Welsh playmaker's role their own and Gatland apparently likes the options Anscombe could provide at fullback, allowing the coach to cover or shuffle Leigh Halfpenny.
A first-choice No 10 job in the Kiwi Super Rugby scene appears unattainable for now with all the classy incumbents in place and the Blues having penned a new deal for Ihaia West.
