Wales vs England: The subtle tactical change that helped Dan Biggar to silence his critics and beat the English again

Biggar issued more than just a verbal response to former Wales star JJ Williams following harsh criticism in the lead up to their 13-6 victory over England

It is easily forgotten that Dan Biggar knows how to beat England. The Wales fly-half is one of the reasons that Eddie Jones is in charge of the national team, given events that unfolded at Twickenham four years ago, and it was appropriate on Saturday that he was at the centre of what unfolded inside the Principality Stadium.

Biggar had faced harsh criticism in the week from former Wales wing JJ Williams, who insisted that “you’re not going to win the World Cup with him” at 10 and called for Warren Gatland to select Jarrod Evans, the two-cap 23-year-old, instead.

So it was no surprise to hear Biggar respond to Williams shortly after being named man-of-the-match in Wales’s 13-6 victory over England.

"A special thanks to JJ Williams for all his comments last week," he said sarcastically. "It has been really motivating and supporting for the team."

It was the right answer from a man whose talent has somewhat been forgotten by many. Gatland decided 12 months ago to bring in Gareth Anscombe as his first-choice 10 in an attempt to switch to a more expansive and attacking game, but while Biggar may not fit perfectly into that picture, he is still a master at game management.

It was Biggar who stood up the tallest at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in the injury-enforced absence of Leigh Halfpenny to kick Wales to victory and England out of their own World Cup, when again the stand-off left the field with the man-of-the-match gong.

This time around, Biggar once again kicked all his goals and ran the game superbly to keep England on the back foot throughout the opening 50 minutes. But there was something all the more impressive to his game that in effect enabled Wales to seize control of the game.

Inside the opening two minutes, both Biggar and scrum-half Gareth Davies put up high kicks that achieved very little, as England full-back Elliot Daly comfortably took the catch inside his 22 under no opposition to call the mark. It needed something different from the pair if Wales’s gameplan was to be executed as planned, and soon enough it came.

Biggar altered the radar and took around five yards off his booming bombs. Not only did this cause Daly, Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga to alter their positions and create space in behind, but it allowed Wales’s own flying contingent of George North, Josh Adams and Leigh Halfpenny to compete for the ball. Suddenly England were not having it their own way, and both North and Halfpenny took beautiful catches when going up one-on-one against an English defender.

Dan Biggar made a tactical tweak early against England that helped send Wales to victory (Reuters)

So it was no surprise to see the breakthrough try come from not one but two cross-field kicks that landed in Welsh hands. Sure, England were down to 13 players at the time and caught out unawares as they huddled together for the penalty, but it was Biggar’s awareness to see Adams in space that lead to the chance, his braveness to risk the audacious move and his talent to execute both kicks to perfection.

These were the efforts of a man who believes he can be part of a team that can win the World Cup, no matter what someone who played the game more than 50 years ago believes.