Give Biggar a try, says Clement
WALES'S lamentable failure to solve the Irish question should see Dan Biggar given the chance to earn his Six Nations spurs.
As Warren Gatland mulls over his selection options after Saturday's disappointing 27-12 setback in Dublin, ex-Lions, Wales and Swansea star Tony Clement advanced the view that it could be time for the Kiwi to have a look at the precocious Ospreys youngster in a championship setting.
''Why not?'' said Clement. ''I think it would be brilliant for Dan's development as an international player.
''Stephen Jones has been a great servant for Wales and we all know what he can do. It wouldn't be a question of discarding him or anything like that, but I just think this weekend offers the opportunity to freshen things up by bringing in someone like Dan.
''If you look at him, he has stepped up to the plate for every challenge that has been set for him in his career to date.
''He has shone for the Ospreys and he delivered for Wales on their summer tour of North America last year.
''This would be another challenge for him, but one I'm sure he'd be up to.
''It's about rewarding people in a squad environment, too.
''Other countries are not afraid to play young players — Australia, for instance, do it all the time.
''Of course you have to get the balance of the side right. But I just feel we should be able to make a few changes and still back ourselves to beat Italy at the Millennium Stadium.''
Wales will be playing to avoid the wooden spoon on Saturday, having failed to make the most of an abundance of possession at Croke Park. Their attacks lacked invention and were easily cut down by an Irish side who countered with three tries of their own.
The slide really started for Gatland's team after they lost Lee Byrne to the sin-bin for illegally knocking the ball out of Tomas O'Leary's hands. Ireland crossed twice while the full-back was off and never looked back.
Composure
Byrne couldn't recover his composure and ended up being hauled off, with a centre, Andrew Bishop, sent on, but Clement insists he would stick with Lion for the game with Italy.
''Everyone can have a bad day,'' added Clement.
''Byrne has played a lot of good rugby for Wales and deserves the chance to bounce back from last weekend.
''You don't become a bad player in one game. What specialist alternatives are there to him at full-back? He is a player Wales need in their side.''
mark.orders@swwmedia.co.uk
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by tony roberts, Adelaide South Australia
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 1:21PM
“Re the comments Stephen Jones I have been a long time Welsh rugby fan who has never rated him ever look at his record yes part of a team but when he and bloody Cooper or Peel play for Wales they will struggle to win I have said this many times before any results he is so predicable and his poor kicking the whole team should be ashamed of that performance and Lee Byrne should not be given another chance he is playing badly at cliub level and for Wales his game has deterioted big time and the forwrads need to stand up and accept that they are paid to perform no excuses seeing them is like so hard to accept I love Wales and want us to be part of a competeing rugby nation it is backwards at present very sad from a lot of Welsh people overseas Tony in Adelaide South Australia”
by Barney, Swansea
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 12:15PM
“Agree with Alex, drop S Jones and play Biggar, then we will miss his tackling and have the revolving door of Dan, to tell the Italians, run this way.
While everyone loves a dancing jinking 10, the reality of the modern game has changed dramatically, a no 10 needs to be able to tackle, some of the tackling Jones does is formidable. Remove Jones and you take away a prized asset.
All the know it alls like Alex, wont appreciate Jones until he no longer plays, pathetic comments towards an outstanding British Lion, that Brian Odriscoll rates higher than most, but then BOD hasnt got a clue, has he Alex.”
by martin, Swansea
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 11:28AM
“I think that Warren Gatland needs to field the strongest team that he has at his disposal for the Italians. I accept that Dan Biggar is a rising star at outside half but we need the tried and tested experience of Lions first choice Stephen Jones at the helm. The Italians will throw everything at Wales because, if there are some major upsets on "super Saturday", Wales could end up bottom with the Italians in fourth place. They have undone us in the past and are well capable of doing so again. For that reason we need our stars on display to give the loyal supporters something to cheer about at the end of an extremely disappointing campaign.”
by gorsboy, swansea
Monday, March 15 2010, 8:17PM
“No harm in giving Biggar a chance the time is right to give young players a chance wth world cup around the corner.I do think we should give byrne a rest he has lost confidence in himself.What about those SA referees? byrne yellow card Ist time O'driscoll blatent fouls again and again not even a warning! even more strange in Calcutta match ref puts hand in pocket for yellow against THEM only to withdraw it when Borthwick has a go,spinless or what???????????”
by alex evans, Neath
Monday, March 15 2010, 7:00PM
“How could we drop Stephen Jones when he's the best fly half wales has ever produced.
He's nimble on his feet, makes breaks for fun and slots goals from inside his own half.
Think again Tony Clement!”