At long last... Biggar head-to-head for the
IT is unclear if Dan Biggar’s has an old autograph book at home jampacked with the signatures of sporting heroes from his childhood days.
But one imprint he definitely didn’t get was Gavin Henson’s.
Not because he didn’t look up to a player who did box-office as well as any who ever represented the Ospreys.
It’s just that Biggar had hit his teenage years when Henson started booming the ball distances for the Ospreys that no-one had contemplated at St Helen’s since Tony Clement used his cannonball boot to such telling effect for Swansea RFC.
A young Biggar may have been awed as a black-clad Henson, playing at full-back, plucked a high kick out of the air five metres into his own half against Ulster and carried on running, all the way through the visitors’ defence and over the try line for a stunning solo score that will stick in the minds of all who were fortunate enough to witness it.
The then-Gowerton Comprehensive School pupil may have admired, too, the ex-Swansea star’s ability to propel the ball 20 metres or more off either hand, along with his vision and anticipation, which bought him time, the commodity no sportsperson can ever have enough of.
But, heck, Henson was only sevenand-a-bit years older than Biggar. The assumption is it wouldn’t have been the last word in cool for the teenager to chase after a bloke who hadn’t long been in school himself.
Asked if he ever pushed a pen and an autograph book the way of Henson, Biggar said this week: “No, there wasn’t quite that age gap (between the two).”
He added, with tongue pushed far into cheek: “Maybe I’ll ask him on Friday night.”
Ah, tonight’s the night, when the pair face each other for the first time on a rugby field.
It will make for a fascinating contrast in styles: past v present, effortless craft v unstinting graft, eyecatching nonchalance v match-winning determination – the list could go on.
The certainty is Ospreys fans will enjoy seeing Henson back in action at the Liberty, as long as he doesn’t do too much damage to their team.
It is hard to overstate his worth to the region in their early years.
When he and a number of other key players started the campaign late in season 2005-06, the question was put to their then coach Lyn Jones who would be missed the most. Without batting an eyelid, he replied: “Gav. The others are all important players, but Gav is capable of influencing a game in a way that no-one else in British rugby can do.”
No doubt Jones had in mind the huge swathes of territory Henson won for his side. And the tries he scored. And the points mountains he amassed, with the former Swansea player contributing 583 during his first two seasons with the Ospreys, before injury and the lure of celebrity barged into his life.
And all the while, Biggar was watching.
“The striking thing for me when I was coming through was that Gav would think he was the best at everything,” he said.
“That confidence just rubs off on people.
“What I took from him when I was growing up is the confidence he had in terms of backing himself.
“He would always think he was right.
“Sometimes, in the position you are in as a No.10 in Welsh rugby, you have to make sure you are confident.
“I was here with him for my first year or so and, with the skill-set he has, there are very few players who are as naturally gifted.
“I didn’t really model myself on him.
“I’d say I’m quite the opposite of him in some ways.”
Maybe not as much as the hardworking Biggar thinks.
Even Mozart had to put in the hours and Henson certainly did that growing up.
This writer’s sister lived next door to the Henson family in St Brides Major when young Gav was a schoolboy at Brynteg Comprehensive School and she would frequently tell of the lad who would rarely be seen without a rugby ball in his hands.
That passion for his chosen sport later struck Lyn Jones at the Ospreys. “Rugby is his passion – first, second and third,” Jones said during the inaugural regional campaign.
Henson worked relentlessly at his game and backed up the graft with natural talent.
He could do physical if the occasion demanded, but it was his allround quality that was so startling. Here was the complete package. Early in his career, he announced himself to Swansea RFC followers in an away game at Neath.
Graham Thomas, then of the BBC, wrote: “The ball was put high over his head in the opening minutes and most of the Neath pack had already started tucking napkins under their chins and were clutching knives and forks when Henson leapt and caught the ball, bumped off the first wouldbe tackler and then pirouetted past three others before moving into top gear and firing out a long pass to