DAN BIGGAR takes centre stage for Wales in Rome today reinforced by a resounding vote of confidence from the most decorated of all fly-halves.
Phil Bennett, winner of two Grand Slams and four successive Triple Crowns during the Seventies, is backing Biggar to ensure the 7-1 third favourites behind England and Ireland make a flying start to their Six Nations campaign.
The old master’s belief that Dan is still the man follows calls from former internationals Gwyn Jones and Jonathan Davies for Sam Davies to have been the starting ten against Italy this afternoon.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Biggar should, ” Bennett told The Rugby Paper. “He has shown his ability to control a game and Wales have played some beautiful rugby with Dan in charge. “You think of the best kickers in world rugby and he’s right up there. He hardly misses and he’s also a beautiful punter of the ball. If things aren’t going well for whatever reason, they have the option of bringing Sam on.
“Sometimes you have to throw youngsters in but on this occasion Biggar is the man to run the game. If everything is going to plan after an hour or so, then they can say to Sam: ‘Go out and rip them apart’.”
Biggar, aware of the endless argument over who should be wearing the Welsh jersey steeped in history more than any other, takes it all in his stride. “My personality doesn’t allow me to worry about the burden of it, ” he said.
“You have to have a quite strong mental attitude to wear this jersey for Wales. If you lose it tends to be your fault. If you win, sometimes you don’t tend to get a lot of credit.”
Itally head coach Conor O’Shea sends the perennial underdogs into action demanding a “great, great performance” as a sequel to their ground-breaking win over the Springboks in Florence before Christmas.
“We want to make everyone understand that we are on the right track, ” the 46- year-old Irishman said. “We are changing and it is possible to change our history.
We have to impose our game plan on them.”
Italy believe they have a better chance of beating Wales today than at any time since they last did so ten years ago. Those close to the camp claim that O’Shea, in tandem with his assistants, Mike Catt and ex-Springbok Brendan Venter, have banished any inferiority-complex.
Carlo del Fava, the 54-cap lock forced into retirement three years ago by a neck injury, said: “The new coaches have created an outstanding environment.
They have laid the foundations for creating a shock in this Six Nations.
‘’There is a new belief among the players, a stronger conviction. They are more relaxed, more composed. One thing’s for sure – this won’t be another 60-point affair.
“The confidence they have given the whole squad makes this our best chance of upsetting Wales. They have great players but they are a team in transition.”
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