The strange selection decision that shows Wales’ muddled thinking ahead of the Six Nations
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Experienced fly half Gareth Anscombe has been left out of Warren Gatland’s squad for a tournament in which Wales must show improvement. The good news for Warren Gatland was that his Six Nations squad naming was nothing quite as frantic or fretful as last year’s unveiling. Then, as you may recall, the Wales head coach emerged to face the press still dusting off the debris after the landing of a bombshell, news of Louis Rees-Zammit’s bolt for the NFL reaching Gatland mere minutes before releasing a selection in which the wing was set to be included.
![[Warren Gatland’s side have lost their last 12 Test matches]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/13/14/731658fe511aee8aab9f69af2fa728ecY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2ODY0MTky-2.78536245.jpg)
It was a moment that set the tone for a disastrous, damaging year for Welsh rugby, one that featured failure from top to bottom. In governance and in performance, Wales separated themselves from the rest in their inadequacy – which is some going considering the ongoing mess across the Severn. A run of 12 consecutive Test defeats did not lead to Gatland’s dismissal perhaps partly because of the sheer scale of the problems elsewhere – a fresh lick of paint isn’t going to dramatically improve a house with significant structural problems.
![[Scarlets’ Sam Costelow has been ruled out of the Six Nations by injury]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/13/16/ea5e5dcd8c038eec654360e3e3769755Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2ODcyNDky-2.78655837.jpg)
It would have been perfectly fair for Gatland to assume that, after his annus horribilis, things can only get better. Alas, this is Welsh rugby. It may have lacked the drama and daring of Rees-Zammit’s departure but news of fly half Sam Costelow’s broken collarbone was a blow just as painful that landed not long before his 2025 Six Nations party was named. Consider also injuries to captain and star performer Dewi Lake, lineout linchpin Adam Beard and the versatile Mason Grady – the suffering continues.
![[Ospreys fly half Dan Edwards has earned his first call up]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/13/14/newFile.jpg)
