Biggar in swipe at legend after his man-of-the-match display

DAN BIGGAR silenced his harshest critics with a dazzling man-of-the-match performance in yesterday’s win against England, after a 1970s legend said that Wales would never win the World Cup with him wearing No 10.

The combative fly-half, 29, started in Cardiff in place of the injured Gareth Anscombe, who was ruled out of the tournament this week with a knee injury.

JJ Williams, who won 30 caps on the wing during the golden era of the 1970s, had said that Wales would not triumph in Japan with Biggar leading the attack.

‘Special thanks to JJ Williams for all his comments this week,’ Biggar responded after the match. ‘It has been really motivating for the team. It is really pleasing to get over the line and dig it out, as we have done for so many years.’

And Wales boss Warren Gatland backed up his fly-half — while firing a shot of his own at Williams. ‘Dan was really good today,’ he said. ‘I don’t know about that former Welsh player. Was he really old? Played in the 70s probably? Did he play over 50 odd years ago? Probably. That does explain a few things.’

Wales did suffer some injury knocks. James Davies — who played with brother Jon for the first time in a Wales shirt — went off with a head injury, Jake Ball and Aaron Wainwright picked up dead legs, Gareth Davies took a knock to the hip and Liam Williams withdrew before kick-off, giving Leigh Halfpenny the chance to play his first Test since last November.

Halfpenny was part of a 31-man group who prepared for the game but as he was not meant to feature was put through two gruelling training sessions on Friday and yesterday morning.

‘You get the call and that adrenaline just kicks in,’ he said.

‘On Friday we had speed endurance training. Then this morning I had leg weights followed by a bike session. I wasn’t walking too well!

‘For Liam, picking up an injury just before the game, I feel for him. It was a real tough Test out there today but the boys dug deep at times.’