Six Nations 2013: Dan Biggar apologises over Wales display

 

SIX NATIONS: FRANCE V WALES

  • Venue: Stade de France, Paris
  • Date: Saturday, 9 February
  • Kick-off: 17:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One Wales, BBC One HD, Red Button and online; listen on BBC Radio Wales & online and BBC Radio Cymru; live text commentary on BBC Sport website; watch again on BBC iPlayer; highlights on Sunday's Scrum V

Dan Biggar has apologised to Wales fans over their poor opening in the 30-22 Six Nations defeat by Ireland.

Wales were 23-3 down at the break, but fly-half Biggar says they improved as the first period wore on.

"We have to start better. The first half wasn't good enough," he said.

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“I still think we had enough opportunities to win that game in the second half”

Dan Biggar Wales fly-half

"We can only apologise for that, but that 10 minutes before half-time boosted us. It made us come out and play some good rugby in the second half, but we have to be more clinical."

A charge down of a Biggar clearance by Ireland hooker Rory Best led to Ireland's second try, by prop Cian Healy.

The Ospreys stand-off was winning his 12th Wales cap while making a first tournament appearance and said: "We were a little bit out of shape there.

"It's one of those things, but the way we bounced back after conceding points was a positive for us and something we have to take going forward."

Biggar hopes to retain the No 10 jersey for Saturday's clash against France in Paris in the face of James Hook's challenge.

He also hopes Wales' pack can provide a better supply of possession to a back division he admits botched too many try-scoring opportunities amid their fightback.

"We can't spurn the amount of opportunities we did in the second half," said Biggar.

Official match stats

Wales Ireland

63%

Possession

37%

65%

Territory

35%

5 (0)

Scrums won (lost)

6 (1)

12 (3)

Line-outs won (lost)

9 (2)

8

Pens conceded

13

135

Rucks won

67

24

Possession kicked

28

101 (9)

Tackles made (missed)

176 (15)

8

Offloads

3

5

Line breaks

2

(provided by accenture)

"So it's frustration in there [the dressing room]. That's the main thing and I'd love to hold on to that jersey for next week.

"As a collective unit we didn't start well enough and ultimately that's what cost us the game.

"But the way we bounced back after conceding points was a positive for us and something we have to take going forward.

"We could have quite easily thrown the towel in at 30-3 down after half-time and I think that 10-minute spell just before half-time really boosted us and made sure we had to put some width, some tempo on the game and play some rugby.

"Ultimately, we didn't have the ball in the first half so it's disappointing, but there are a lot of positives and things we have to put right for next week.

"I still think we had enough opportunities to win that game in the second half.

"Two chances, potentially 14 points, two-one-ones or three-on-ones even, which makes the scoreboard and timings a lot different.

"We took too long to wake up. You can't get away from that - that's probably what the papers will write and quite rightly so.

"But there are a lot of positives we can take into Paris otherwise it's going to be a long trip."

WALES SQUAD:

Forwards: Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Paul James (Bath), Gethin Jenkins (Toulon), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Lou Reed (Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Olly Kohn (Harlequins), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Blues), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Andries Pretorius (Blues)

Backs: Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Blues), George North (Scarlets), Eli Walker (Ospreys), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Lee Byrne (Clermont).