So it was no surprise to hear Biggar respond to Williams shortly after being named man-of-the-match in
Wales’s 13-6 victory over England.
"A special thanks to JJ Williams for all his comments last week," he said sarcastically. "It has been really
motivating and supporting for the team."
It was the right answer from a man whose talent has somewhat been forgotten by many. Gatland decided 12
months ago to bring in Gareth Anscombe as his first-choice 10 in an attempt to switch to a more expansive
and attacking game, but while Biggar may not fit perfectly into that picture, he is still a master at game
management.
It was Biggar who stood up the tallest at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in the injury-enforced absence of Leigh
Halfpenny to kick Wales to victory and England out of their own World Cup, when again the stand-off left
the field with the man-of-the-match gong.
Biggar claims the man of the match award (PA)This time around, Biggar once again kicked all his goals and ran the game superbly to keep England on the
back foot throughout the opening 50 minutes. But there was something all the more impressive to his game
that in effect enabled Wales to seize control of the game.
Inside the opening two minutes, both Biggar and scrum-half Gareth Davies put up high kicks that achieved
very little, as England full-back Elliot Daly comfortably took the catch inside his 22 under no opposition to
call the mark. It needed something different from the pair if Wales’s gameplan was to be executed as
planned, and soon enough it came.
Biggar altered the radar and took around five yards off his booming bombs. Not only did this cause Daly,
Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga to alter their positions and create space in behind, but it allowed
Wales’s own flying contingent of George North, Josh Adams and Leigh Halfpenny to compete for the ball.
Suddenly England were not having it their own way, and both North and Halfpenny took beautiful catches
when going up one-on-one against an English defender.
So it was no surprise to see the breakthrough try come from not one but two cross-field kicks that landed in
Welsh hands. Sure, England were down to 13 players at the time and caught out unawares as they huddled
together for the penalty, but it was Biggar’s awareness to see Adams in space that lead to the chance, his
braveness to risk the audacious move and his talent to execute both kicks to perfection.
These were the efforts of a man who believes he can be part of a team that can win the World Cup, no
matter what someone who played the game more than 50 years ago believes.