Dan Biggar is ready to make the step up against the All Blacks if required © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Dan Biggar

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Dan Biggar is ready to answer Wales' call against the All Blacks - just five weeks after celebrating his 19th birthday.

Ospreys prospect Biggar could find himself involved when Wales target a first victory over New Zealand since 1953 next Saturday. With one teenager - Biggar's close friend Leigh Halfpenny - looking a strong bet to start, Wales boss Warren Gatland might also require the 6ft 2in fly-half's services.

Gatland is awaiting the result of a scan on James Hook's right knee after he was forced off less than 20 minutes into an unspectacular 34-13 success against Canada.

Stephen Jones remains favourite to wear the number 10 shirt, but Biggar, who was not born when New Zealand were crowned inaugural world champions in 1987, can realistically expect a bench role if Hook is sidelined.

Biggar said, "I will approach the game and the week in exactly the same manner as I always do - prepared to start the game, if called upon. We are hoping that James is all right for next week, because he is one of the best players around.

"Stephen (Jones) is in pole position at the minute, and quite rightly so."

Biggar's controlled, mature contribution was at the heart of Wales' second-half revival after they ground out a totally unsatisfactory 10-6 interval lead.

But it would have come as no surprise to his many admirers who watched him shine for Wales in this year's Under-20 World Cup and then step up into Heineken Cup action with the Ospreys.

"I was hoping for possibly a five-minute run at the end with us 50-0 up, or something!" added Biggar. "I am delighted to be given an opportunity, and the guys on the pitch did a really good job guiding me through it.

"I just had to focus on my job, and my job alone. It probably took me a couple of minutes to settle, but you relish it - it's something you live for. It was a little bit daunting when I first went on.

"It is a massive step up, even from regional rugby. The pace of the game is a lot quicker, and a mistake can cost you. Off the field, I am not that confident a person, but on the field it is basically what I get paid to do, so I have to be the general."

But if debutant Biggar made his mark, then so did fellow teenager Halfpenny, who scored two sparkling tries to back up a quality Test match introduction against world champions South Africa six days earlier.

And the Cardiff Blues starlet has surely done enough to see off any challenge from Scarlets speedster Mark Jones for Wales' second wing berth alongside Shane Williams next Saturday.

"I was pleased for Leigh that he got a start against South Africa," said Biggar. "We've played rugby together for a long time now, including at under-14s level for Gorseinon Rugby Club.

"It is a credit to the age grades that we've come through, and the coaches that have been there. I am delighted to have one of my best friends in the squad alongside me."

As for the Canada win - Wales' first since they were crowned RBS 6 Nations champions last March - Biggar added, "The victory was essential.

"Warren was pretty calm at half-time. He knew the game would probably open up in the second half, which it did. We had to go through our structures, be a bit more direct and get our big runners into the game, which is what we managed to do.

"We know it wasn't a brilliant performance, but hopefully we will be peaking next week against New Zealand."

Gatland is due to announce his starting line-up to tackle the All Blacks on Tuesday, when he could name the same side that ran South Africa close.

The most likely change, however, is at scrum-half, with Dwayne Peel ousting Gareth Cooper, while skipper Ryan Jones looks set to keep his place despite struggling for form.

Jones, who was substituted early in the second-half last night, can expect another run at blindside flanker, with Andy Powell returning at number eight following a barnstorming display against the Springboks.