George Skivington, the rugby director for Gloucester, acknowledged that he was surprised that Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn were left out of Wales’ Six Nations squad.
The 34-man roster that Wales head coach Warren Gatland announced for the campaign begins on January 31 against France in Paris.
Gloucester’s comeback this season has been largely attributed to the play of fly-half Anscombe, center Llewellyn, and members of the Wales Six Nations team Tomos Williams, Josh Hathaway, and Freddie Thomas.
The west country team is on track to earn a position in the EPCR Challenge Cup last-16 and is only three points outside of the Gallagher Premiership play-off spots.
Their free-flowing, attacking style has also won them a lot of admirers. Players like Llewellyn, who is tied for the most Premiership try-scores this season, Anscombe, and Wales scrum-half Williams are prime examples of this.
However, Anscombe and Llewellyn were left out along with two other important players: Scarlets flanker Taine Plumtree and Cardiff full-back Cameron Winnett.
“I was taken aback. Skivington stated, “I had both of them scheduled to be away (during the Six Nations).”
They were both very disappointed yesterday. They have come in today positive, and they will control what they control, and that’s trying to put their best foot forward.
“Things change quickly, as we know. The door might open for them for one reason or another.
“Ultimately, it is up to coaches the squad they pick, the team they pick, the way they want to play.
Both of those lads are in good form for us, and I was definitely surprised to see it, but I understand when you are selecting a squad you do what you think is right.”
Anscombe has overcome serious injury setbacks to compile a 38-cap Test career, while Llewellyn had been expected to build on his Autumn Nations Series experiences of earlier this season.
Skivington added: “Gareth has seen the highs and lows of the game so many times that he is well-versed in a bit of disappointment and how quickly that can swing around and you can get what you want.
“It is probably tougher for Max because he has worked extremely hard recently to put himself in the position.
“He is one of the top try-scorers in the Premiership, he is playing really well, he got all those minutes in the autumn and I think he was probably looking forward to using those lessons in the Six Nations, and obviously he is shocked not to be involved.
“He is a strong character, he is disappointed, but he is going to do everything he can to get selected.”
Skivington said he had not spoken to Gatland or any of his Wales coaching team around the selection.
“I know all these guys from a long time ago, and I have had plenty of conversations with Warren over the years,” he said.
“The relationships are good, but I haven’t asked any questions or asked for anything. I have talked with Max and Gareth, and they have had their feedback individually from the coaches.
“Warren is a far more experienced coach than me and been around the block a lot longer. He is going to know very strongly the way he wants to play rugby and how he wants to do things.
“International rugby is very different to Premiership rugby, and he is the most well-versed head coach in the Six Nations who knows international rugby.”
