'Music to my ears' - Dan Biggar meets Wales' newest star with 'a bit of an edge' who knows just why he's here
Dan Biggar was left impressed after meeting Wales' newest fly-half Dan Edwards for the first time, with the Toulon star admitting the youngster's attitude was 'music to my ears'.
While they are from different rugby generations, there are quite a few similarities between the pair other than their shared name and position. Like Biggar, Edwards has come through the system with the Ospreys, while the youngster has also taken on the role as the Wales squad's laundry man - a position Biggar held for 15 years - following his first international call-up for the Six Nations.
Edwards also ended up making his Test debut in similar fashion to Biggar - who made his bow as he replaced the injured James Hook against Canada in 2008 - as he was called off the bench in the first half against France on Friday as Owen Watkin departed with a serious knee injury.
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While it was a disappointing evening for all those in a red jersey, the 21-year-old outside-half did not look out of place having been flung into Test rugby earlier than expected. Like Biggar before him, Edwards has been credited for the level-headedness and self-assuredness he has displayed at his tender age, with the veteran fly-half admitting the youngster has a "bit of swagger" as he met him for the first time at Wales' training camp in Nice this week.
In his column for MailOnline, Biggar wrote: "What I’ve heard about Dan is that he’s really got something about him. He’s got a bit of swagger. A bit of an edge.
"I love that. It’s something I’d like to think I had in my game and it’s undoubtedly true you need that to thrive at the highest level. What this Wales team needs now as much as good rugby players is big characters.
"It’s unfair to ask too much of Dan given he is still very young, but he can potentially be one of those in the future."
Asked what his biggest strength was, Edwards told Biggar: "I’d say it’s my ability to forget a mistake and get on with it. As a 10, as you know, you can miss a kick and everyone will hammer you. But you need to put it to the back of your mind and move on. My attitude is that you have to take the shot. You’re not going to get it if you don’t try."
As Biggar admitted that the 21-year-old's attitude was "music to my ears," Edwards said that he needed to "have a rhino skin and just get on with it," adding: "I need to do what I think is right."
While all focus is on getting a much-needed result against Italy in Rome this weekend - with a win finally putting an end to a torrid losing run of 13 successive Test matches - Edwards is now pushing for a starting jersey and admits being handed the No.10 shirt would "mean a lot" to him and his family.
Crediting Warren Gatland with giving him confidence, the fly-half said the coach had told him he'd been "picked for a reason" having watched his game flourish this season, before calling on his team-mates to "play with freedom" against Italy.
"It is something I’ve always wanted," he said of the No.10 jersey. "I’m here in the squad now, but I’m still striving to make it my own. It’s a dream come true to be here, but I can’t just be happy with that.
"The most important thing this weekend is the result. We all know it’s about the outcome. We have to win. We have to."
