The Gorseinon boy who smashed Itoje and made a Welsh legend choke on his words
English players aren’t known for winning the popularity stakes within the pulsating, partisan tiers of the Principality Stadium, but if centre Jonathan Joseph, often known as JJ, was to be pitted against his Welsh namesake, JJ Williams, it would likely be the Bath man who would be covered in bouquets while the erstwhile former Lion would in for brickbats.
Why?
Because JJ Snr spat out some ill-timed, and uncharitable comments about Dan Biggar on the eve of the match. The accusation that Wales wouldn’t have a hope of winning the World Cup with the former Osprey at the tiller was pointed and unnecessary but the teak-tough fly-half produced the sort of stirring display that saw him afforded him a hero’s reception on departing the field of play. It left him in no doubt where their affections lay.
Northampton’s pivot has had a stellar season in his new domestic home and he was saintly in his execution for 80 minutes before showing enough devilment to respond to Williams by thanking him for his motivating words. Touché.
The 29-year-old from Gorseinon, a small village to the West of Swansea, may lack the balletic footwork and instincts for playing to the line of his fallen rival, Gareth Anscombe, but what he lacks in finesse, he more than makes up for in other areas; whether it’s the regathering a hoisted ball, defensive zeal and speed of thought and deed.
His impact was pronounced against England, and not for the first time. Let’s not forget, this was a man who had kicked the winning points against England in the 2015 World Cup, a man who had grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck in March against the same opponents by rifling the ball diagonally to a gleeful Josh Adams to score on their way to a Grand Slam.
This was a man who played an integral part to Wales’ 14-match winning run.
The ‘friendly fire’ he was subjected to clearly irked him and he performed heroically.
It was Biggar, who surrounded by three English defenders, rose highest to gather a lofted Leigh Halfpenny kick in trademark fashion. Bloodied, he had to be patched up by the team doctors.
In the game’s only score minutes later, it was Biggar who had the temerity to pump the ball 50m from left to right for Josh Adams, as the yellow-carded Anthony Watson departed the field. Within seconds, the ball had been recycled, for Biggar to scan the field and spot George North screaming in space. He lofted the ball again Beauden Barrett-style, from right to left, this time, only with more subtlety, into the giant wing’s hands to canter over for his 38th Welsh try. Comedy gold was provided by Ken Owens who theatrically rued how the arch-poacher had stolen his certain glory with outstretched arms.
"Thanks to JJ Williams for the extra motivation" @WelshRugbyUnion.answered their critics with victory over @EnglandRugby, says man-of-the-match Dan Biggar#C4rugby #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/3VtFbalZOf
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) August 17, 2019
Biggar, naturally bisected the uprights from an acute angle for another two precious points.
In the second-half, when Maro Itoje, a beacon of English power clattered through a sea of bodies towards the Welsh try-line, you can guess who rose to drive his aching shoulder into the outstanding lock’s midriff. Biggar repelled him, knocking him backwards, visibly gritting his teeth as he drove him towards the turf. Five minutes later, with the clock ticking down, it was Biggar, with a gutsy if, borderline flying tackle, that brought down a bolting Itoje at full gallop on the halfway line.
He was on a personal crusade and didn’t care who knew about it.
SECRET TO SUCCESS: Dan Biggar shows us how to kick ? from seven v #ENG at Twickenham #RWC2015https://t.co/Wtiif6ifhC
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 27, 2015
Like Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell, there is a gritty, redoubtable quality to Biggar. He once told this writer, “It’s not always about the fancy stuff, sometimes it’s about knuckling down and being a winner.” That is Biggar in a nutshell. He may have fancied himself as an amateur thespian in his formative years, but there is no doubting his battle-worn ‘cojones’.
A pinpoint Dan Biggar kick pass for a try at the Principality? We're experiencing serious Six Nations déjà vu…
George North is there to dot down, and Ken Owens to celebrate in style ?
HT #WALvENG score: 10-0
? @SkySports Action pic.twitter.com/jFHXkM8Urm
— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) August 17, 2019
Elsewhere, Wales were happy to have restored some collective belief after it was punctured by some rampaging English behemoths six days earlier. While their set-piece was a mixed bag – the lineout was far slicker with nine successful takes in the first 20 minutes, in contrast, their scrum struggled after Tomas Francis departed – it was their vaunted defence that was restored to its snarling best.
Several times Billy Vunipola – for some, the world’s premier ball-carrier into contact – ran the ball back with intent but was shackled by defiant defence. At one point, Jake Ball, Josh Navidi, Alun Wyn Jones and Ross Moriarty surrounded him, held him up, and regained possession. The message was clear, Wales were on their patch and a wholly different proposition to the leggy, sluggish bunch that inhabited South-West London six days ago. A relieved Gatland admitted two consecutive losses to England would have been a blow to their psyche should they meet in a titanic quarter-final.
It was another player from Gorseinon, who was next to prove his worth and grow in stature as the game progressed. Leigh Halfpenny started the game with only an hour’s notice, after Liam Williams pulled up with a hamstring strain. Halfpenny had been put through two punishing fitness sessions in 24 hours prior to kick-off, including one on the morning of the game. It was also his first start for Wales in nine months after Tevita Kuridrani had knocked him into next week with a late hit. Okay, he wasn’t perfect, and misjudged a high-ball early on, but after that error, he took a handful of high-balls adroitly and grew in confidence. Late on, he survey the backfield and stuck up a Garryowen to regather and win a penalty. It was the Halfpenny of old, who danced through tackles and took the right decisions.
Gatland was happy to see him back, stating that in his opinion, he was the best positional full-back in the world.
The final hombre in Gorseinon’s power trio was Ross Moriarty who atoned for a subdued display at Twickenham with a display overflowing with fire and brimstone, clattering Vunipola’s rib-cage and offering himself as a ball carrier in the tight exchanges. It was unflashy but highly effective.
The standout player in the first-half didn’t come from Gorseinon, he came from further East; Bassaleg. Aaron Wainwright took six lineout balls cleanly and pinched a ball from Itoje. He carried aggressively around the fringes and made a nuisance of himself in Tom Curry’s absence. Gatland extolled his virtues, complementing his display at Twickenham, before drolly saying he was waiting for a 40m break from the youngster. Whisper it but the 21-year-old could end up having the sort of impact Sam Warburton had in 2011 in New Zealand, as a fresh-faced 22-year-old. Wainwright will spearhead the next generation for Wales in 2020.
In truth, Gatland cut a relieved figure after the game. He had a handful of walking wounded; James Davies had concussion, Aaron Wainwright and Jake Ball dead legs, while Gareth Davies had a knock to the hip and Biggar had a slight groin strain but there was nothing like the anguish seen in the wake of Anscombe’s cruel season-ending injury.
With a fortnight before they welcome Ireland to the Principality Stadium, it should be time to cryogenically freeze the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Biggar, Ken Owens, Jonathan Davies and Ross Moriarty, only to unfreeze them in Japan. There is no need to take risks, Wales don’t have the squad depth to lose too many more indispensable figures. If fit, the likes of Owen Lane, Scott Williams, Owen Watkin and Hallam Amos should be given meaningful time to impress on the coaching team their worth.
Wales leave for their Turkish hot-weather training camp today and that should give the management a chance for an exhaustive brain dump with the priority how they realign in Anscombe’s absence.
As the world’s No 1 ranked team, at least for a few days, Alun Wyn Jones quipped, ‘for a nation of 3.3m people, we’re happy with that’, and he wasn’t wrong. It is an accolade to covet for there have been many dark times over the years.
The Welsh bandwagon keeps on rolling.
Comments on RugbyPass
Must be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
3 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
3 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
3 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to comments