Dan Biggar says he recognises a kindred fighting spirit in Johnny Sexton but is determined to be the last man standing when Wales face Ireland on Saturday.
The Six Nations clash in Dublin will mean a confrontation between two of the game’s most expressive and openly competitive characters. It’s a battle where the arm-waving gestures and head-shakes could be at least double the penalty count.
Biggar – who returns at No.10 for Wales after missing the first two rounds of the tournament with a shoulder injury – had to play second fiddle to Sexton for most of last summer’s Lions tour.
That might have created frustration for the Ospreys outside-half, but it did not lessen the respect he has for his great rival.
Biggar played the role of spectator as Wales got their Six Nations campaign under way, and Ireland’s narrow victory over France in Paris did not escape his attention either – particularly Sexton’s spectacular match-winning drop-goal.
Biggar sent the Ireland playmaker a message to congratulate him on his 45-metre strike, fully understanding the magnitude of a kick delivered amid intense pressure.
“I like Johnny a lot,” says Biggar. “He has that streak in him, which is nice to see, where he knows exactly what he wants. He dictates play.
“And in the summer (on the Lions tour), he was really good, where you could pick his brain. He has got a great work ethic too, and he’s very similar to myself in terms of personality – a real drive and will to win.
“I may drop him a line before the game, but hopefully we will have a good catch-up on Saturday – after I’ve finished on the winning side!
“I texted him after the France game and said it was some kick, to be fair. You could only applaud it, because they were running out of ideas a little bit and he took it on himself to step up. And it was a huge moment for them.
“He said he’d had about a million texts after that game! But he did say he appreciated it, and said he hoped I would be back fit for Dublin. So that was an aim of mine, to get back for this game.”
A Wales victory at the Aviva Stadium would keep them firmly in the mix for Six Nations silverware ahead of home games against Italy and France next month.
“We’ve got a good record against Ireland, but we are fully aware that it’s going to be a huge, huge challenge,” added Biggar.
“If you lose, it’s going to be very difficult to finish on top in the tournament, but if you win, you’ve got two home games to come against Italy and France and you have set yourself up incredibly well. That is the biggest carrot for us.”
Biggar will line up for Wales, helped by repeated sessions in an oxygen therapy unit watching the American legal drama series Suits.
The Northampton-bound player has made a quicker-than-expected recovery from a shoulder injury suffered while on European Champions Cup duty last month.
He sat out Wales’ opening tournament appointments with Scotland and England, but he now returns for a key head-to-head as Wales aim to stay firmly in title contention.
“I’ve been in what quite a few of the boys go in – it’s sort of an oxygen chamber to speed up recovery,” Biggar said.
“I did 10 days on the bounce, and they (sessions) are about an hour-and-a-half each. So it was pretty boring.
“My ipad was fully stacked with things to watch, but it was pretty monotonous day in, day out but it was for the greater cause.
“Even if it gave one per cent extra in terms of recovery, it was worth it. Basically, you just sit there, you have a mask on and not much goes on in there.
“I finished off Suits, season seven. I’ve just had a baby, so I don’t get much chance to watch box sets any more, so it was nice to get a bit of piece and quiet in there!”
