Biggar wants Welsh composure

Editor

Wales number ten Dan Biggar has highlighted composure as being key when his team take to the field against South Africa on Saturday.

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar has singled out composure as being vital when his outfit face South Africa on Saturday.

Biggar and company, who have already lost to Australia and New Zealand this month, hope to end a run of one win in 27 versus the Boks.

And when quizzed about how the Welsh are going to turn their fortunes around, the Ospreys number ten had a simple message for his team-mates.

“A bit of composure,” he told Press Association Sport ahead of the Cardiff clash. “We have played some good rugby in patches, but in crucial moments we’ve maybe fallen a little bit short.

“It’s just about trying to stop them getting an early score back once we’ve got in front, and not give them anything soft.

“We did that pretty well against New Zealand (last Saturday). We didn’t give them anything soft or any ins to the game until the last 10 minutes. We have to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

“There won’t be anything too flash at the weekend. We will be looking to do the simple things right and close the game out.

“South Africa are a superb side, but like any team, if you put them under pressure you don’t know how they will react.

“We are desperate for the win and we’re hungry for the win, and I think that is a big thing. We’ve been saying it over and over, but we are fed up of coming so close and just falling short.

“I think Saturday is a huge test for us, but I think it’s one that we are in great spirits for.”

Wales lost 31-30 to the Boks in Nelspruit in June and with so much talk about their drought against those who used to contest the Tri-Nations, Biggar says it’s been tough to listen to.

“We know our record against the southern hemisphere isn’t great,” he added.

“In the summer (against South Africa) we played a pretty complete game up until the last few minutes, and then we let it slip.

“We can take a lot from that performance, and hopefully we can push on and get the result on Saturday, because that’s all that matters. A good performance will hopefully lead to a good result, but we would take a scrappy win on Saturday.”