Dan Biggar, Wales’ retiring rugby player, anticipates a surprising performance from the team in the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023 held in France

Fly-half Dan Biggar Aims to Surprise at Final World Cup

As the countdown begins for his final appearance in the Rugby World Cup, fly-half Dan Biggar is hopeful that Wales will exceed expectations and make a lasting impression. The 33-year-old Welshman recently announced his retirement from international rugby following the global tournament in France.

Biggar expressed his optimism saying, “Hopefully we are on the right side of the draw and we can surprise a few people. That’s ultimately what it will be because nobody is expecting us to do well. We are happy to be under the radar.”

This will be Biggar’s third time competing in a World Cup after helping Warren Gatland’s side reach the quarter-finals in 2015 and semi-finals four years later, with both campaigns ending disappointingly against South Africa.

Kicking off their Pool C campaign on September 10th in Bordeaux, Wales will face Fiji as their first opponents followed by matches against Portugal, Australia, and Georgia.

Fiji currently holds seventh place in world rankings among teams within Pool C, surpassing both Australia (ninth) and Wales (10th). This comes after an impressive victory over England at Twickenham – a historic achievement for Fiji.

In contrast, Wales concluded their pre-season preparations with a disheartening 52-16 loss against reigning world champions South Africa. However, Biggar believes that their upcoming fixture against Fiji will prove pivotal as two teams advance from each pool into the quarter-finals.

“Everything we are doing is catered for Fiji in Bordeaux for a week Sunday,” revealed Biggar. He emphasized the significance of their warm-up games and acknowledged that despite the disappointment against South Africa, every aspect of their preparation is focused on the Fiji match.

Biggar reflected on how Wales has evolved since their last World Cup campaign, stating, “Four years ago we were in a very different place going into the World Cup, so we could almost plot our way through more. This time around because of where Fiji have come through and levels they have hit, everything hinges on that first game.”

The fly-half dismissed any notion that Fiji’s triumph over England would affect Wales’ approach to facing them. He said, “That game has not made much difference to how we were approaching Fiji.” Biggar acknowledged Fiji’s athleticism and strength but highlighted France’s recent victory as a blueprint for playing solid rugby against them.

He emphasized the importance for Wales to excel at set-pieces, accurate kicking, relentless ball chasing, and tight defensive play in order to succeed against tough opponents like Fiji. These elements are crucial foundations demonstrated by top-tier teams in international rugby.

Biggar believes that being considered underdogs might work in favor of Wales: “Quite rightly Fiji deserve all the credit they are getting at the minute… Not many people are probably expecting us to beat Fiji and that’s fine,” he remarked. Embracing this status allows Wales to focus on themselves while others discuss potential outcomes.

Wales had a turbulent 2023 Six Nations tournament finishing fifth amidst various challenges both on and off-field. However, they have spent three months intensively preparing for this year’s World Cup with arduous training camps held in Switzerland and Turkey.

“We have always been a lot better when we have spent more time together,” expressed Biggar confidently. The team’s improved confidence compared to their performances during the Six Nations is evident as they gear up for the World Cup.

While Biggar does not make any grand claims about winning the tournament, he remains optimistic and eager to see Wales surprise their critics. As his final World Cup appearance looms, Biggar and his teammates are focused on making their mark in France.