Western Mail

Baldwin aims broadside at JJ over Biggar criticism

- MATTHEW SOUTHCOMBE Sports writer matthew.southcombe@walesonlin­e.co.uk

SCOTT Baldwin has launched a staunch defence of Wales fly-half Dan Biggar after he received fierce criticism from Wales legend JJ Williams.

The winger, who earned 30 caps for Wales and went on two British and Irish Lions tours in the 1970s, proclaimed Wales would not win the Rugby World Cup with the Northampto­n Saint in the No.10 jersey.

In an interview with the Telegraph, he labelled Biggar as a ‘very limited’ player, suggesting that selecting him would set Wales back by 12 months.

He then doubled down on his views on the radio on Friday morning, sparking a furious debate on social media.

Wales hooker Baldwin, who played with the fly-half for nine years during their time together at the Ospreys, was among those who took issue with Williams’ comments.

“A lot of ex-players have opinions, and this isn’t about JJ Williams, but a lot of players become better players when they retire,” Baldwin told the Western Mail.

“They forget that they made mistakes, they had bad games and they had off days.

“I’d just like to see them get behind the team. If we’d won last week, Wales would have been the best team in the world.

“Now we’re saying that we’re not going to win the World Cup because Gareth is injured and Dan’s at 10. Come on now. That’s a bit out there.

“It’s a bit frustratin­g for me, not only as a friend, but as a player.

“Some people have been coming onto me telling me he deserves respect because he’s a Lions Test winner and things.

“Dan Biggar deserves a bit of respect as well. He’s won a Grand Slam, Six Nations, PRO12, he’s been on a Lions tour, he’s the top points scorer in the history of the PRO14.

“There isn’t much the guy hasn’t done other than win a World Cup.”

Biggar is now very much the man who will be tasked with guiding Wales to Rugby World Cup glory next month after a serious knee injury ruled Gareth Anscombe out of the tournament.

The 29-year-old and Anscombe proved a deadly combinatio­n in the recent Grand Slam success, with the latter performing well from the start, leaving Biggar to come on and finish the game off.

But now, the former Osprey can once again get comfortabl­e in the jersey that was his for so long as a result of Anscombe’s absence.

“I played with him for many years and saw the transition from the Dan who probably used to kick a little bit too much and the way he’s matured,” said Baldwin.

“Look at the Six Nations. No player is going to be happy coming off the bench, everyone wants to start Test matches.

“But I thought the way he came on showed a lot of maturity. Dan will play the way he needs to play in order to win a game.

“Go back to the last World Cup – he was a talisman for us in everything he did and I think it was the same again in the last Six Nations.

“Gareth being out is a blow to the squad, but there is no man I’d prefer to take that jersey and that mantle going into a World Cup than Dan Biggar.

“You can ask any player who has played with or against him and they’ll speak highly of the quality he possesses.”

The Six Nations success has seen expectatio­n levels soar and there will still be huge pressure on Warren Gatland’s men despite the injuries they’ve already suffered.

But Baldwin pointed to Biggar’s ability to cope with the most intense pressure in the past.

“The more pressure that comes on Dan is when he plays his best.

“Two things jump to my mind. Go back to 2012, he has a kick on the touchline to beat Leinster on their own patch to win the PRO12. Nails it.

“World Cup against England, kick on the halfway line. Nails it. Big players rise to the big occasion and he’s the ultimate for that.

“Some people will say he’s not an attacking No.10, but all 10s do is put people in holes and they can only do that if people are running their holes.

“Ultimately, Dan himself would probably admit that he wasn’t at his best last week when he came on.

“I’m sure you’ll see a different Wales and a different Dan Biggar today.”

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