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Dan Biggar reflects on the Rob Howley betting affair and Wayne Pivac's teething Wales troubles
Dan Biggar believes the potential return of former Wales assistant Rob Howley to rugby in the near future will be good for the game. The ex-assistant coach flew home in disgrace just before the start of the 2019 World Cup in Japan after it emerged he had been betting on matches in recent years.
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The allegations resulted in Howley missing the finals in the Far East and then serving a ban which elapses on June 16. His absence meant he missed out on the farewell that was given to Warren Gatland and his backroom team after they finished fourth at the World Cup.
Despite having some weeks yet to go on the suspension, Howley has already been linked to a number of vacancies, something that Wales out-half Biggar believes is good as he feels the 49-year-old still have plenty to offer the sport.
“It has been well documented what Rob has gone through,” said Biggar on the latest edition of The Rugby Pod, the chart-topping podcast show fronted by Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode. “Rob never got the full appreciation, certainly in Wales, for what he achieved. He worked as hard as anyone in terms of our analysis, in terms of looking at ways we can improve at different things.
“His rugby mind is going to be beneficial to anyone who can sign him up, no doubt about that, and if he can get back sooner rather than later that would be great for him. It would be great to see him back, absolutely. Wherever he ends up if I’m still about in four years’ time or something he may just offer me a contract that can finish my career. I better keep him onside.”
Biggar, meanwhile, outlined his optimism for the Wayne Pivac era in Wales despite the New Zealander’s results so far showing just one win in four 2020 Guinness Six Nations outings.
“What Wayne has done is he has instilled real confidence in the lads to go out and play. The way we play is going to be different to the way we played with Warren but what we have got at the minute is we have got a team which, barring a couple of elder players, are going to be together for the next four years until the next World Cup cycle.
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“Is it important to win every Test match you play? Yes, naturally. Is it important to play well? Of course, it is. But what will be allowed is a little bit of time to adjust to systems and adjust to the way Wayne likes to run sessions, what we are asked to do as players may be slightly different to what Warren asked us to do.
“It’s exciting, it’s really exciting times with the talent we have got to choose from. We weren’t a million miles away in the Six Nations. Ireland, we were well and truly beaten. France probably should have gone our way. And England, there wasn’t a huge amount in it even though they probably took their foot off the gas in that last 15 minutes.
“What is pleasing for us and the way we play is that it will create opportunities for us to score points… it was very similar to when I started the season with Northampton (in 2018). We won two out of the first six or seven games and what you could see was there were signs of us playing well, signs of the way we were playing were positive but we just needed a bit of time together.
“What you saw after Christmas at Northampton was the longer we had together the longer Chris (Boyd) and Sam (Vesty) got to implement their philosophies, their sessions and everything. By the time spring and the good weather came we were absolutely flying by that stage, made the playoffs and had a really good run.
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“That will be the same with Wales with what Wayne and Stephen (Jones) want to implement. They will want to win but they appreciate it is going to take a bit of time.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
45 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
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