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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Matthew Southcombe

The wolves will never be far from Dan Biggar's door but he proved against Scotland he is exactly the No.10 Wales need

There's something about Dan Biggar that some sections of the Welsh rugby public might find a little uncomfortable.

He might not be the fly-half they always want, but against Scotland at the Principality Stadium, he was exactly the fly-half they needed.

Biggar produced whatever the flow of the game demanded. His were two contrasting halves of rugby.

In the first, he took the ball to the line with an air of determination. The intent in his game was evident and he brought others into play.

The timing of his passing put team-mates in holes and, while they didn't always result in clean line breaks, they put Wales over the gain line and on the front foot, something that was severely lacking in Ireland last week.

Two minutes in, Biggar resisted the temptation to kick away turnover ball, instead choosing to launch Owen Watkin from his own 22. It eventually resulted in three points for Wales.

Five minutes in, he charged onto the ball from a scrum and carried a good 20 metres into the Scotland half, putting Gregor Townsend's side in full retreat.

It led to another three points for Wales.

Midway through the half he challenged the Scottish line again, delaying the pass just long enough to put Watkin through another half gap. Another 15 metres made.

Half hour in, he chose the ideal option from a starting play, putting Liam Williams over the gain line and then realigning to carry it himself. Another 10 metres.

And yet social media was awash with critics at the break. 'Biggar is playing too deep', 'Biggar's kicking is aimless'.

It seems to have become the case for some that if Wales aren't running in tries from 70 metres, then it must be Biggar's fault. It's almost fashionable.

In truth, it has come with the territory of the red No.10 jersey since time began. Biggar knows it and he has accepted it. But that doesn't make the criticism fair in my eyes.

On to the second period at the Principality Stadium. Rain had fallen throughout the first half and it was particularly heavy at times. Conditions were not conducive to running rugby, the situation did not require reckless abandon. It required the calmness of a pragmatist - and there are few better than Biggar.

Recognising this, Wales' captain put a little more space between himself and the gain line, he went to the air a little bit more, and put Wales in the right parts of the field. He steered the ship.

Now he was methodically plotting his way around the field.

"I felt we were maybe a little bit unlucky not to go in ahead at half time," said Biggar.

"I thought we played some really good stuff, won more collisions, and could play on the front foot more as a result.

"In the second half it became more about game management and it became really, really greasy out there. It was difficult ball conditions and weighing up the risk of having possession versus not having possession.

"It was very much a territory based game and not wanting to play too much in a tight match. One moment wins or loses you the game and we’re pretty pleased we came out on the right side of it and managed the second half."

There also needs to be a recognition that Scotland's defence was utterly brilliant - masterminded by former Ospreys boss Steve Tandy - and if you can't break it down, you have to find another way.

That's what Biggar did. He found a way.

When he sat back in the pocket to slot a drop goal following Finn Russel's yellow card, more criticism flowed on social media.

He was, of course, vindicated as it proved to be the match-winning action.

Even the morning after, knowing what we now know about the decisive nature of the drop goal, a news website is running a fan reaction piece lamenting the decision. The mind boggles.

Biggar's kicking was pinpoint, his defence was resolute - it was a pitch perfect performance in a game that was, in many ways, made for him.

Adding to it all, he did the majority of it on one leg, dealing with a right knee issue that had him requiring attention from medics at regular intervals.

"Dan epitomises what you want in a rugby team and that’s someone who fights for every last inch," said Wales boss Wayne Pivac after the match.

"He doesn’t give an inch and not only does he fight to win every blade of grass on the pitch, he also does a good job with the match officials.

"I’m very pleased he was able to do a good job today and captain the team to victory."

The emotion he showed at the full time was as much as we've seen from Biggar.

He took the Irish defeat personally and was not afraid to discuss how much the performance bothered him in the build-up to Scotland's visit to Cardiff.

He wears his heart on his sleeve and what we saw was all the pressure that builds up inside a character like him being released.

Truth is, the wolves will never be too far from the door. Biggar has had to prove himself time again throughout his career and that challenge continues in perpetuity.

"We’d taken a fair bit of flak, but for me, I absolutely love that," he grinned after the match. "I’d almost rather people were slagging me than praising me because it brings out a different side of me and maybe more of a focus."

He was a man of the match contender against Scotland, but still the critics wanted a piece of him.

It may not always be fashionable, but Biggar does whatever the situation requires.

It's my belief that it is high time he got the appreciation he deserves.

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