Wales' Dan Biggar hits back at critic in live post-match TV interview
Man of the match Dan Biggar used his post-match TV interview in Cardiff to hit back at JJ Williams, the former Lions winger who claimed Wales will not win the World Cup with the Northampton player playing at out-half.
Biggar was thrust back into the Wales No10 jersey for Saturday’s match against England following the World Cup-ending injury suffered last Sunday by Gareth Anscombe.
His return to the starting line-up was criticised by Williams, who suggested Wales need to be starting Jarrod Evans in Anscombe’s absence if they are to conquer the world next month in Japan.
However, Biggar used a TV interview on Channel 4 to take his critic to task following Wales’ deserved 13-6 win over England, a victory in which the out-half was pivotal in the creation of the game’s only try scored on 34 minutes by George North.
“Obviously delighted to get the win,” said Biggar before receiving his man of the match award. “We are all full aware we probably didn’t front up enough last week.
"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
“It was a just a huge defensive effort today. We played some good stuff. We probably could have been a little more ahead in the first half but really pleasing to get over the line and dig it out as we have over the years. And special thanks to JJ Williams for all his comments this week. It has been really motivating.”
Wales’ seven-point win just six days after losing 19-33 to England at Twickenham – a loss that ended a record 14-match winning streak – was enough to shunt them above New Zealand in the World Rugby rankings and become the No1 team following this weekend’s action.
Follow all the action and stats from Wales v England anywhere in the world in our live blog #WALvENG https://t.co/hvTXnxvpwk
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 17, 2019
“We probably got a little caught up in that last weekend with the winning run, the world No1 and all that,” said Biggar.
“What we want to do is we want to keep going about our business. We have worked hard for each other today. We have ground out a win, a huge defensive effort, and we’re looking to get better.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1RQ5n0Iecw/
“Obviously, it is nice to be where we are. Hopefully, we can continue our good run, but it was a huge effort from the lads today and a massive effort.
“The forwards were brilliant all day. England’s strengths are obviously set-piece, driving lineouts and to front up as we did, to keep a world-class team like England try-less, is a pretty special effort.
Dan Biggar, take a bow!
Quick thinking + perfect execution = TRY for Wales' @George_North!#C4rugby #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/JrCiVAkwHm
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) August 17, 2019
“Plenty to work on but we go to Turkey now on the back of a win and have a tough week there before hopefully getting better for the two Ireland games.”
WATCH: Part one of Operation Jaypan, the two-part RugbyPass documentary on what the fans can expect to experience in Japan at the World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments