Biggar celebrates his century in style
Wales captain’s drop goal sinks Scots
WITH A MINUTE to go and the Principality Stadium rocking, Dan Biggar departed from the stage to a raucous reception. The Wales captain’s work was done.
On the occasion of his 100th cap, Biggar kicked his country back to winning ways with a typically combative display. A drop goal in the 70th minute was the difference between the sides.
Humbled by Ireland in Round One, this was much more like it from Wales. Defeat in Dublin led to a week of Welsh rugby soul-searching. This win over a Scotland team, who again under performed when much was expected of them, won’t cure all the ills but confirmed that Wales remain a tough nut to crack on home turf.
‘It’s one of the toughest and best victories I’ve had in a Welsh shirt,’ Biggar said. ‘We knew we were coming into the game under pressure having not performed last week. We’d taken a fair bit of flak, but I absolutely love that. 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.’
Scotland have not won in Cardiff since 2002, but this looked like a golden opportunity for Gregor Townsend’s men to build on their Calcutta Cup victory over England.
Finn Russell’s late yellow card was a crucial moment. Russell mixed moments of brilliance with several errors while Biggar, his opposite number, played despite a knee injury to almost go the distance.
Wales were smashed to bits by Ireland’s giant forwards in Dublin. Here, they responded impressively, with hooker Ryan Elias outstanding. Elias was the official man of the match, but he and Biggar both excelled.
‘The players themselves addressed a lot of areas to improve. They backed the talk up with what was a pretty solid performance,’ said Wayne Pivac, the Wales head coach.
Weaker beer was being served at Principality Stadium and the bars were shut at the start of the second half in a move from the Welsh Rugby Union to try to limit drunken behaviour inside the ground. What beer was left went straight up in the air when Biggar’s replacement, Callum Sheedy, kicked the ball out to end the game. Welsh fans went wild at the final whistle. They just about deserved it too.
Scotland had warmed up for the game with a morning run through a Cardiff car park, but Wales started quickly with a pair of penalties from Biggar for a 6-0 lead.
Russell put a restart out on the full, but his passing is sublime and a long ball from the Scotland playmaker sent Darcy Graham over for the opening try. Russell missed the conversion but kicked three penalties to one from Biggar as Wales initially struggled with their discipline and Scotland were 14-9 ahead.
The Wales forwards, however, were at the races. Just before the break, full-back Liam Williams produced a sublime 50:22 kick, although his facial expression suggested his effort was more luck than judgement.
Wales used their own line-out ball and the field position to drive prop Tomas Francis over for what was only his second Test try. It showed the huge improvement in the Welsh pack as thy went into the break level 14-14.
Significant drizzle fell intermittently throughout the game. It made the second half a much tighter, tactical battle. Russell and Biggar swapped kicks (17-17).
Russell also tried a drop goal, but it fell short.
The game swung Wales’ way in the final quarter. Biggar lined up a long-range penalty attempt which, from the moment he struck it, always looked short.
The ball rebounded off the angle of post and crossbar. Wales picked up and went straight on the attack, led by Alex Cuthbert. Red attackers poured forward. Tomos Williams’ pass was then knocked forward by Russell. It didn’t stop Cuthbert reaching for the corner.
Referee Nic Berry and TMO Brett Cronan ruled Cuthbert had been in touch in the act of trying to score, but when the play was pulled back, the officials yellow carded Russell.
He was not as lucky as his captain Stuart Hogg, who escaped without sanction for a similar offence in the first half.
Now, with 68 minutes played, Wales pushed for a try against 14 men, with Jonathan Davies on as a replacement to also win his 100th cap. With a penalty advantage, Biggar stepped back into the pocket and nailed a simple drop goal.
‘It wasn’t good enough,’ said Townsend, Scotland’s head coach. ‘There is big disappointment within our group.
‘We played better against England, but we didn’t play badly here. There were big moments in the second half where we didn’t execute well enough.’