Dan Biggar insists momentum is key to title defence as Wales target strong start

Wales captain Dan Biggar believes momentum will be key as the reigning Guinness Six Nations champions prepare to launch their title defence.

Despite winning the tournament last year, Wales arrive at this season’s staging as only fourth favourites behind France, England and Ireland.

They go into the Six Nations on the back of a thrilling autumn win against Australia, although injuries have hit them hard.

British and Irish Lions like Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi are expected to miss the whole competition, while George North and Taulupe Faletau are only considered possibilities – at best – for the latter part of it.

Wales face a testing opener against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday week, before hosting Scotland and then tackling England at Twickenham.

“It’s a really tough start,” Northampton fly-half Biggar said, during the Six Nations virtual media launch.

“Obviously, with the form Ireland showed in the autumn – how impressive they are – and we know how tough going to Dublin is. We haven’t had a huge amount of success there over the last few years.

If you get off to a good start, then everything seems to flow- Wales captain Dan Biggar

“This tournament, in particular, hinges on momentum, really.

“If you get off to a good start, then everything seems to flow, camps become a lot happier and training becomes a lot easier. For us, it is really important to get a good start.

“If you can pick up an away win on the first weekend, then it sets you up really nicely. We have then got Scotland at home, which we know is going to be hugely difficult as well.

“The opening couple of weekends are pivotal to how the tournament will go for you, and we are hoping we can get off to a good start and