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'That's not a negative slant on the Ospreys, but working with Chris Boyd and Sam Vesty has made me a better player'

Wales and Northampton out-half Dan Biggar (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Dan Biggar, who has emerged as the British and Irish Lions first choice outside half for the tour to South Africa, believes his decision to move to English rugby transformed his career.

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Biggar left the Ospreys shortly after the Lions 2017 drawn series with New Zealand after making 200 appearances for the Pro14 side and scoring over 2,000 points for the region. Biggar made five appearances on the 2017 tour but did not break into the test team against the All Blacks but with Johnny Sexton ignored by head coach Warren Gatland and Owen Farrell also seen as a centre, the Welsh outside half’s main rival for the test spot will be Scotland’s Finn Russell.

Biggar said: “It’s really nice to enjoy the moment and celebrate the call, but we’ve got a huge six weeks coming up now. I’m trying to park everything else now and give everything I’ve got for Northampton, because there’s so much to play for here before the end of the season.

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Jim, Goodey, Shanks and Fez react to the Lions:

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Jim, Goodey, Shanks and Fez react to the Lions:

“I feel like I’m a better player today than when I first walked into Northampton, that’s not a negative slant on my 10 years with the Ospreys, but working with Chris Boyd and Sam Vesty has made me a better player. Saints has been brilliant for me and to be recognised as a Lion while playing for Northampton is special.

“The way Boydy announced it to the group was a bit embarrassing as it was in the middle of training, and the worst thing was that we dropped the next couple of balls in the next couple of plays, so I don’t think he will be doing that again!

“I’m still loving my time at Northampton. I feel like I am improving in every game and every training session, and Boydy and Sam in particular have been absolutely brilliant in terms of challenging my skills, giving me the confidence to showcase what I can bring.

“We’ve got a young group who are hungry, and that’s keeping me going as well at a little bit of an older age compared to the rest of the squad. Feeling young and just trying to keep up with the talent we’ve got has been brilliant.”

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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