Anscombe To Be Axed..?

On the back of one of the worst Super Rugby seasons that the Blues have recorded to date, coach Pat Lam lost his job and was replaced by a very respectable coaching team for the 2013 season, including former All Black and Japan head coach Sir John Kirwan and former All Blacks head coach Sir Graham Henry.
However now 5 rounds into this years ITM Cup and with Auckland playing some decent footy, first five Gareth Anscombe now looks to be the next man to lose his spot with the Blues. It is ALMOST confirmed that Anscombe will not be offered a renewal on his contract for the 2013 season.
With probably some of the best form of his life behind him at the moment, it would seem sensible to keep the young first five and develop him into a potential All Black, especially under the new look coaching team. The 2011 Players' Player of the Year is one of the more in form 10's in the ITM Cup this year, and playing under new management may just of been what this young man needed to really kick start his career after an injury plagued 2012 Super Rugby season.
This then leaves the question to be raised, who else is there?? In 2012 Pat Lam used three first fives regularly between Anscombe, Weepu and Hobbs and with the axing of Anscombe, and Weepu most likely to spend most of the season at 9 with the recent departure of Alby Mathewson, does that leave Michael Hobbs to fill the void left in the number ten jersey? Some hot and cold form in 2012 saw him earn a few starts, but is new coach Sir John Kirwan looking to bring young blood into the line up? With the recent signing of young Southland fullback Marty McKenzie, that may indicate the desire to utilise McKenzie a bit more at first five? I guess that question will be answered when Kirwan finalises his squad for 2013 and we start to see a bit more of how the Blues team will line up.
So that then leaves the question, where to now for Anscombe? Surely if Anscombe is after a genuine starting position (which of course he will be, well why wouldn't he? He's 21!) that leaves the only realistic option being the move south to the Highlanders. Unless he is willing to take a bench spot with most likely the Chiefs or the Hurricanes (which i cannot see happening personally) he may need to consider a move offshore, which would be a real shame to see some real genuine talent go to waste.
I will follow Anscombes decision with great interest and i guess we can only hope he manages to find a contract somewhere, and gets some decent game time in what is shaping to be a very exciting 2013 Super Rugby season already.
*Go Crusaders