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Lions explain why Biggar made just three measly passes in 2nd Test

(Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Gregor Townsend had defended the intricacies of how out-half Dan Biggar played in last weekend’s second Test Lions defeat to the Springboks, a Cape Town loss that prevented them from clinching the series with one match to spare. Welsh out-half Biggar has been selected again to start at No10 for this Saturday’s series decider versus the South Africans, a selection that came despite much focus getting placed on how Biggar only passed the ball a measly three times in the 27-9 loss. Truth be told, though, it was only one pass less than the four he made in the previous week’s 22-17 win.  

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Overall in his 57 second Test minutes for the Lions, Biggar made three passes, made two metres off three carries and kicked for 331 metres while the previous week when he played 67 first Test minutes, he made four passes, gained eight metres from two carries and kicked for 275 metres.

Reflecting on the most recent Test performance of Biggar, attack coach Townsend defended the impact of the Lions No10 by insisting one stat can’t be looked at in isolation as it doesn’t reflect their overall view. “We kicked a few times when we got into the opposition half and that sometimes brought rewards and sometimes it didn’t – that was obviously a strategy,” explained Townsend when quizzed on the Biggar stat of just three passes.   

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The latest RugbyPass Offload looks ahead of the Lions series decider

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“And then in the first half we felt that we were gaining momentum a lot playing off nine and when you play more off nine, your ten is not going to touch the ball on too many occasions but in terms of a half of rugby, we were pretty pleased with a lot of what had gone on. We could have moved the ball more, we could have taken those opportunities when we got into the 22 to come alive a little bit more but it was a half of rugby where Dan was at 10 where he made really good decisions and was very accurate with his kicking game.

“Dan didn’t play a huge amount in the second half so if we are looking at a passing stat, he obviously didn’t play 80 minutes and in that second half, we didn’t get that much ball. But whether a ten passes a lot or not it is not necessarily a good thing or a bad thing. We want our tens to take on this blitz defence.

“When some people are rushing up on the outside, you can play around it, you can play between it or you can take it on as a first receiver and Dan did that a couple of times well. There are more nuances and a bit more in behind those stats. But in terms of a first half of rugby when Dan was at ten we felt we did enough to control that game and put more points on the board.”  

Biggar was just one of two Wales starters in last weekend’s loss along with Alun Wyn Jones, the lowest representation of the four countries that made up the team, but the Welsh now have the largest XV representing for the third Test after front-rowers Wyn Jones and Ken Owens, along with full-back Liam Williams and winger Josh Adams, were called up to start. 

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Asked what he wants from the Welsh pair in the back three, Townsend replied: “To bring their individual strengths. They are outstanding rugby players. There is a lot of focus on Josh around his finishing and Liam around his aerial strengths but I see them as outstanding rugby players. They make good decisions in attack and defence, they connect really well with others in the backline, really good people and they deserve their chance with how well they played and trained on this tour.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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