NZ rugby sidesteps

NZ rugby - short for New Zealand rugby, of course. Think of the sidestep and NZ sidesteps are very important. They have had some brilliant sidesteppers.

Origin of New Zealand sidesteps

Many countries have players who sidestep.

New Zealand is a great example for both quality and quantity of sidesteps captured on camera in high level games.

But where do they come from? That`s a difficult question!

Of course, beating opponents one-on-one is an extremely important part of the game. Especially (but not only!) in the backs - so evasive skills should develop.

But it`s not of supreme importance if your team wins most games anyway with stratagies which require little use of the backs - which was the chosen way in the past, especially in NZ.

So, there is a bit of a tradition to use the sidestep, but nowhere near as strong as in Wales.

NZ rugby sidestep knowledge

Having read a number of books on the subject, it is clear to me that a number of top New Zealand players had real sidestepping skills when sidesteps were beginning to boom.

They were excellent sidesteppers. They could describe how they did it - many sidesteppers can`t do that.

What a shame more New Zealnd rugby players did not use their knowledge and experience.

Ron Jarden sidesteps

Ron had a distinquished career with the New Zealand All Blacks, playing in 37 games for New Zealand in the early 1950s.

In his career of 134 first-class matches he scored 145 tries - so he knew a fair bit about how to get to the try line!

After he retired, at the tender age of 26, he went on to write an excellent book Rugby on Attack (Whitcombe & Tombs LTD, 1961).

More about Ron Jarden and 1953 New Zealand rugby.

NZ sidesteps on other pages on this site

In the 1970s New Zealand rugby had an outstanding player in Bryan Williams.

Williams was a fast elusive player who represented New Zealand between 1970 and 1978.

More about Bryan Williams and 1970 New Zealand rugby.