'Sometimes I have wanted to lose the plot a little bit': Dan Biggar surprised himself with Wales captaincy job
Dan Biggar says he has relished his role as Wales captain in this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship.
The Northampton fly-half took over from Alun Wyn Jones, who returns to Wales’ starting line-up against Italy on Saturday after more than four months out because of a shoulder injury.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac, though, has retained Biggar as skipper, with the countdown continuing to next year’s World Cup in France.
“I’ve enjoyed the responsibility of it, I really have,” Biggar said.
“I probably thought I would have to be thinking a lot more about decisions and the way I controlled myself, but it has felt quite natural.
“Sometimes there have been moments when I have wanted to lose the plot a little bit or give someone a kick up the backside or whatever.
“But I think it has helped in that aspect, making sure the next moment is the most important, as opposed to when you are not captain and you can rant and rave a bit more at the other boys.
“I have really enjoyed it, but I am fully aware that obviously when Al is back properly, that may not be the case.”
Biggar wins his 100th cap in Wales’ Six Nations finale, reaching three figures 14 years after making a Test debut against Canada in Cardiff.
At 32, he remains a pivotal part of the Wales set-up and a third World Cup appears well within his range.
“I’ve said all along that I really think that age is a number,” Biggar added.
“You don’t have a God-given right to be selected. You have got to make sure you are fit and your form is good.
“If you are 17 and you are good enough, you should be playing, same as if you are 36. If you are the best person in that position, it doesn’t matter what your age is.
“The body feels good when I am training – a little bit stiff on a day off when I am walking down the stairs after games – but generally I feel pretty good and hopefully there is a fair bit to go.”
Wales, despite being well beaten by Ireland and then losing narrowly to England and France, could still finish third in the Six Nations.
They would need to beat Italy with a bonus point, then see how England and Scotland fare in their final games, but it is a realistic prospect.
“We have been exposed because of injuries in the last two campaigns, but what we’ve found certainly in this campaign is a bit of steel about us,” Biggar said.
“I am not saying we have excelled in everything we’ve done, as there are certain areas where we need to get better, but I think the team has found a real never-give-in desire.
“Apart from that first 60 minutes in Dublin, we have toughed it out and mixed with some really good teams. I think we are in a really good spot.
“We are developing lots of depth and hopefully over the next 12-18 months we can get to a peak, which is something we have had a habit of doing.
“We’ve done well at World Cups and hopefully we can do that again.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I agree ..come on keyboard warriors and journalists looking for a cheap win ….. only 2 mins to go 12 points down …this DID NOT decide the game and beside JM was hit after the whistle and in response it was a pat on the back of the head …harmless ….watch soccer if this is your issue
4 Go to commentsRest is for namby pamby sissies, I see. True men should overcome their trifling injuries by playing week in, week out. Bidwell’s stance reminds me of a Jon Gadsby character from the 70s, a rugby captain giving an after-match speech: “It was a very physical contest. One of our players caught a boot on the back of his head in a ruck, and he died, actually. But to his credit, he played on.”
1 Go to commentsI still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
1 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
27 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
27 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
27 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
27 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
27 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
22 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
27 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
91 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
27 Go to commentsSay what you will about Andy Goode. But he is right about one thing… I’m not sure what that one thing is exactly… but I’m willing to hear him out.
27 Go to commentsAnother article to bait and trigger Irish fans. This must stop.
27 Go to comments