O
ollybarkley
Guest
I've been watching Dan Biggar since the U-20 tourney and wonder if Wales may have found their replacement for Stephen Jones as the counter-balance/potential threat to James Hook's grasp on the #10 shirt for Wales.
As a fellow physically limited #10, I have admired Stephen Jones for a long time. I have watched his career with admiration as he has fought through adversity to become one of the best Fly-halves in the world, and one of the most well-rounded rugby players I have seen. Stephen Jones was not blessed with being a fluid natural athlete. He was never very fast, nor was he particularly nimble, but he was strong and most of all he was determined. He evolved his game to the point that he became a reliable kicker, both tactically and from the floor, he developed a very good distribution game, became arguably the 2nd best defensive 10 in Northern Hemisphere rugby behind Johnny, and developed into enough of a running threat that he made defenses take notice of him, thus opening up space for those outside him.
But what I feel set Jones apart from many others, especially from Hook, was his mental game. Jones is a leader. He learned from another physically limited, but determined and hard working FH Neil Jenkins. Jones took the gifts he had and made it work as best he could. He became the student of the game, developing his command presence and tactical game. He became a very strong in-game manager and organizer, as well as an excellent decision-maker.
In Dan Biggar, I feel Wales may have found a younger, slightly more naturally athletic version of Stephen Jones.
Biggar seems to have already surpassed Hook in terms of game management and command presence. Ospreys and Wales seem to have more shape and cohesion when Biggar is at 10. He has a solid kicking game, is a respectable defender, and he is a highly efficient option taker and decision maker. His distribution skills are highly evolved, and his long, looping miss passes are a thing of beauty; the combination of vision and weight on the pass are reminiscent of Andrew Mehrtens in his prime throwing his arching miss passes to Cullen, Lomu, and Umanga in space.
As a fellow physically limited #10, I have admired Stephen Jones for a long time. I have watched his career with admiration as he has fought through adversity to become one of the best Fly-halves in the world, and one of the most well-rounded rugby players I have seen. Stephen Jones was not blessed with being a fluid natural athlete. He was never very fast, nor was he particularly nimble, but he was strong and most of all he was determined. He evolved his game to the point that he became a reliable kicker, both tactically and from the floor, he developed a very good distribution game, became arguably the 2nd best defensive 10 in Northern Hemisphere rugby behind Johnny, and developed into enough of a running threat that he made defenses take notice of him, thus opening up space for those outside him.
But what I feel set Jones apart from many others, especially from Hook, was his mental game. Jones is a leader. He learned from another physically limited, but determined and hard working FH Neil Jenkins. Jones took the gifts he had and made it work as best he could. He became the student of the game, developing his command presence and tactical game. He became a very strong in-game manager and organizer, as well as an excellent decision-maker.
In Dan Biggar, I feel Wales may have found a younger, slightly more naturally athletic version of Stephen Jones.
Biggar seems to have already surpassed Hook in terms of game management and command presence. Ospreys and Wales seem to have more shape and cohesion when Biggar is at 10. He has a solid kicking game, is a respectable defender, and he is a highly efficient option taker and decision maker. His distribution skills are highly evolved, and his long, looping miss passes are a thing of beauty; the combination of vision and weight on the pass are reminiscent of Andrew Mehrtens in his prime throwing his arching miss passes to Cullen, Lomu, and Umanga in space.
