South Africa falls in love with Dan Biggar after classy final gesture before leaving

Roll back the clock a few years. Dan Biggar is yellow carded, misses a conversion to give his team the lead and gives away the crucial penalty that sees Wales lose 32-29 to the world champions in the final seconds.

The reaction would have been ugly. Criticism at home would have been fierce and abroad there would be ridicule over his, at times, over-zealous protestations at the officiating and his squaring up to Cheslin Kolbe.

But following the first Test in Pretoria, something very different happened. Social media was awash with support for Biggar, with Welsh fans gleefully professing their relief that he is 'one of ours'. The outpouring of love for the fly-half was notable. But why?

A happy consequence of Biggar taking on the role of captain is that he was hauled in front of the media twice-a-week - after the team announcements and after the matches. After the battle at Loftus, the nation rallied behind Biggar following his post-match remarks in the press conference when he was quizzed about Wales' combative approach.

“I don’t know what the referee expected us to do, just come here, lie down and give South Africa everything their own way? From our point of view, we wanted to try and get in their faces, get in their faces and not take a backwards step. That’s part of the game."

Biggar is the kind of player who opposing fans usually love to hate. But what has also been clear over the last few weeks is that he has won over Springbok followers.

Those who have been paying attention in recent years would have noted the way he sent condolences to the family of Matthew J Watkins after Wales' defeat at Twickenham. How he was front and centre, speaking (very limited) Japanese to locals when the squad arrived in Japan for the