Biggar clan relieved that booking flights to Japan has paid off
Fly-half’s wife bought tickets when Wales were losing against France, writes Mick Cleary ‘It’s cost me a few quid, flying them over now, that’s the only downside of reaching the semis’
Not every Wales fan was consumed by doubt at half-time of Sunday’s quarterfinal against France. The family of fly-half Dan Biggar were so certain that the team would prevail that they booked flights to Japan at halftime, despite Les Bleus leading 19-10.
It speaks to the kind of cussedness and resilience which defines Warren Gatland’s team, their ability to roll with the punches, to keep getting off the canvas to deliver a knockout blow no matter the momentum against them.
“It’s cost me a few quid, flying the wife and little boy over now, that’s the only downside of reaching the semis,” Biggar joked. “It’ll be great to have them out here. Ultimately, that’s the most important thing, that’s why a lot of us are doing this, the sacrifices they are making [at home].
“I think my wife actually booked the tickets with a cancellation policy, and it wasn’t looking great at that point. But the red card was a massive turning point, let’s not shy away from that.”
Biggar is honest enough to recognise that Wales looked anything but one of the world’s four best teams against the French, but points out that his side’s ability to muddle through is a virtue in itself.
“We have to count ourselves lucky, but I couldn’t care less,” he said. “A lot of teams wouldn’t have had the character and desire to find a way. You get no points for style, no bonus points at this stage of the tournament.
“It’s about scoring more points than the opposition, and that’s something we did on Sunday – just about.
“Looking at the quality of the rugby in the other quarter-finals, we were certainly below that against France but what we have in abundance, and as much as anybody, is a desire not to give in. That’s something that can’t be trained.
“There probably isn’t a formula to it. What you have got is a group of guys desperate to achieve and who are prepared to dig deep. We’ve trained incredibly hard for moments like that.”
Biggar sums up so much of what is good about this Wales side as they prepare to face South Africa in Yokohama on Sunday and contemplate the prospect of going one stage further than in 2011.
The Northampton fly-half moved to the Premiership to test himself, to find new layers, to become a tougher individual in the more consistently unforgiving arena of the English league.
It has worked. Biggar will never be universally loved in Wales as he does not conform to the wispy, ghosting, gliding No 10s of both history and myth.
He has also been the unbidden beneficiary of a horrible knee injury suffered by Gareth Anscombe in the warm-up match against England in August.
It is not as if Biggar is an inconsequential backup. The 30-year-old offers plenty in his own right – a steady, technically proficient operator with a fabulous kick-chase game. Above skill, however, he brings edge and combativity to all that he does, a restless, angst-ridden soul on a rugby field, a persona that fits the mould of a Wales side intent on scrapping for every last morsel. The Springboks will, of course, pose an altogether different challenge to France.
“We are going to have to be a lot better,” Biggar added. “That will be the general theme of the week in training. We are very relieved but also happy. We don’t do that very well in Wales. We have managed to reach a semi-final of a World Cup and we are frustrated with the way we’ve played.”
Biggar was a doubt for the quarter-final after experiencing two head knocks in separate games, but insists he is suffering no ill effects.
“It was nice to get through a game of 80 minutes,” said Biggar. “I’m really pleased with that. I felt absolutely fine and went through all the protocols, every check, also speaking to an independent guy from Australia who cleared everything. Hopefully, there won’t be too many issues going forward.”
Not for Biggar or for Wales.