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Biggar hopes Wales can deliver on big stage

Biggar hopes Wales can deliver on big stage

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Dan Biggar is relishing the chance to take part in a Rugby World Cup with a difference after Warren Gatland’s side landed in Japan for the 2019 tournament.

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The 29-year-old fly-half is preparing for the start of his second global showpiece after impressing four years ago.

Biggar said: “I am really excited. At the last World Cup we basically played our games at Principality Stadium and Twickenham.

“We stayed at the Vale and the same place whenever we play England away so even though it was a great experience, it didn’t feel like a real World Cup where you go to different stadiums and different places.

“This is more exciting and has a real World Cup feeling in terms of going away, packing your bags, and everything like that. Hopefully we can deliver on the big stage.”

Biggar toured Japan with Wales in 2013 so is one member of Gatland’s 31-man party for 2019 who has experience of the country.
He is joined in that category by flanker Josh Navidi, full-back Liam Williams, and his fellow playmaker Rhys Patchell.
Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde was also head coach in 2013.

“We went to Japan for a couple of weeks – it’s very different to Cardiff or Swansea! There is not much English,” Biggar said.

“The language barrier is going to be difficult for everyone, but I am sure Japan are going to put on an amazing display. The infrastructure and everything they have got is going to be great.

“It’s something a few boys have done before and we will have to brush up on some Japanese phrases to get us round I think!”

Biggar played a starring role for Wales as they reached the 2015 World Cup quarter-finals and was man of the match in a famous pool stage win over England.

In the last 18 months Wales have claimed a Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam, gone 14 matches unbeaten, and topped World Rugby’s rankings for the first time.

It means Biggar is confident he and his team-mates can go well in the Far East.

“We have been on a really good run, created some depth in the squad, and gone into games with some real confidence,” said Biggar, a 2017 British & Irish Lion in New Zealand.

“What Warren has done since he has been here is instil a belief more than anything. When we go into games against England, Australia, South Africa we are always going in with the mindset that we are going to win whereas before it was more in hope rather than expectation.

“We have a tough pool, but if we can get out of it the other seven teams will not want to play us in the quarter finals. It’s about making sure we perform as well as we have done over the last 18 months and do the basics well. Hopefully we’ll be in a good position to go on from there.”

One thing Biggar has ruled out is the kicking routine which saw him go viral on social media at the 2015 World Cup. It was nicknamed the ‘Biggarena’ and asked if it was coming back, Biggar laughed: “No, definitely not! I’m trying to keep that out of the spotlight as much as possible!”

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