A word in Biggar’s ear is required as Welsh pivot needs to tone things down
WALES coach Wayne Pivac and team manager Martyn Williams have been urged to order Dan Biggar to tone down his histrionics.
Outside-half Biggar was pilloried on social media for his theatrical arm-waving and antics as he remonstrated with English referee Matt Carley during the 27-23 Six Nations defeat to France in Cardiff.
And Chris Foy, respected rugby correspondent of the Daily Mail, in an article headlined ‘Button it, Biggar’, wrote: “Dan Biggar spent too much time protesting.
“He is a class player but his conduct was unbecoming.”
Wales No.10 great and former captain Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies, while praising the competitive spirit and winning mentality of Biggar, warned talking out of turn could backfire on Pivac’s team.
He believes Biggar should calm down and allow skipper Alun Wyn Jones to deal with referees.
“Dan is a true professional and is a great bloke. What you see on the field isn’t what you see off it,” said Davies.
“What you are seeing on it is his competitive nature.
“A lot of players have it. I used to but there is a way of talking to the officials.
“You can quietly argue and make a point to the referee but it’s the captain who should do it. For me, I don’t like Dan waving his arms at the crowd or the officials.
“He needs to rein it in a little bit. I don’t see any benefit and, if he looks back at it, I’m sure he wouldn’t either.
“Dan did that sort of thing at the start of his Wales career but had curbed it. I think it’s borne out of frustration but he does it a little bit too much for me.
“It’s going to annoy the officials and, if there’s a 50-50 decision, it could be the difference between it going with or against you.
“England’s Owen Farrell and Ireland’s Johnny Sexton are the same but they are captains of their teams.
“There was nobody in the ear of the referee more than me when I was a player but there’s a way of speaking to them to get them onside.
“I can remember a match for Cardiff when I put the red card back in the pocket of the referee and talked him into not sending off Dai Young. I did it in a jokey manner but it worked.
“Rugby is a game where referees have always had respect from players but a lot of people, judging by the reaction on social media, saw Dan’s behaviour as a lack of respect.”
Davies doesn’t believe Biggar’s actions have any negative part on his game – a point agreed with by Sean Holley, the coach who nurtured him at the Ospreys.
“We had a bit of what we saw from Dan during his early days at the Ospreys. What you see and what actually comes out of his mouth are two different things.
“He’s not being rude, malicious or disparaging – he’s a polite and intelligent bloke off the field,” said Holley.
“What people are seeing are his competitiveness and winning instinct. It’s what makes him a great player.
“Looking back at what occurred on Saturday against France, Wales had legitimate questions but Dan should have let Alun Wyn ask them.
“Dan had the bit between his teeth, which you could see by his determination to score his try. I love his competitiveness but don’t want to see him waving his arms in the air because it looks petulant, can rub referees up the wrong way and gives the opposition encouragement.”
Holley said Biggar has always been vocal, from the day he arrived at the Ospreys as a teenager.
“He bossed people around at training, no matter who they were but I never saw anybody clock him one. He did have the All Blacks great Jerry Collins chasing after him in one session but, fortunately for Dan, he couldn’t catch him to dish out summary justice.”
Former Lions and England hooker Brian Moore, writing in the Daily Telegraph, called on referees to clamp down on unruly players who are not team captains.
“I understand the officials’ desire to have a working relationship with players, but they must understand