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Sidesteps boomThe 1960's, 1970's and 1980's were the years of the sidesteps boom. Leading the way were any number of Welsh backline players.Welsh sidesteppersFor reasons not entirely clear, but touched on in early sidesteps, Welsh players were the outstanding sidesteppers in this boom period.There are many mentions of a Welsh "outside-half factory". The names frequently include...
Outside-half during the sidesteps boom, a key position for...
Cliff Morgan Here's the Wikipedia entry for Cliff Morgan Carwyn James Here's the Wikipedia entry for Carwyn James In his artcle about Carwyn James in the "Guardian" Tuesday January 8, 2008, Frank Keating uses a couple of words I had to look up... "apercu" and "percipience" Carwyn says great things - and has a great way of saying them! New to the game, experienced player, coach, administrator, anyone..... This terrific article features some of the things Carwyn James wrote in his columns for the Guardian newspaper. I love 'em!!! David Watkins Here's the Wikipedia entry for David Watkins. In this intersting artcle on BBC Sport, David tells several intersting and amusing anecdotes about his experiences They include the Barbarians, his David and Goliath tussle with Colin Meads when the British Lions played the New Zealand All Blacks in 1966 and about going to League. Other outstanding, elusive Welsh stars of the sidesteps boom....
Sidesteps boom - action!In his book "Welsh Rugby Scrapbook",1983, page 21 Gerald Davies, referring to a club game Llanelli v Irish Wolfhounds says this about D Ken Jones, "...,he scored a try which, for sure footed wizardry, I've yet to see surpassed."He goes on to say that D Ken Jones had fanned the flames after Carwyn James had sparked his interest in sidesteps. The document - "defence_all.doc" at "http://rugbycoach.homestead.com", records Phil Larders views in relation to David Watkins , another star of the sidesteps boom period, who had gone across to Rugby League. Larder expresses the view that something other than man-on-man defence must be used to avoid being torn appart by talented sidesteppers like David Watkins, one of the best ever. In his book "Welsh Rugby Scrapbook",1983, page 77 Gerald Davies, referring to the Barbarians v All Blacks game, says the Phil Bennett sidesteps that day were similar to ones Bennett produced in almost any game he played at his home ground, Stradey Park. He also said Bennett was a magical player to watch and that he hoped many children had seen Bennett because children are great imitators and it would benefit Welsh rugby Another interesting reference to the Barbarians game is this one in the Guardian newspapaer - Why this game was the finest ever played It confirms there was no forward pass - the ref was right there! Sidesteps boom - lessons!Gareth Edwards in "GARETH An Autobiography",1978, page 155 sayshe is worried that coaching will be detrimental to the great individual evasion skills his generation possessed. He says that players without skills like dummies and sidesteps lack options and are easy to defend against. He says that outstanding individual talents and organisation are neccessary for success and is not convinced that the skill will survive the coaching process. Other players during the sidesteps boomOf course there were players of other nationalities - but not nearly as plentiful.David Duckham was one. There is plenty to see of Duckham in the Barbarians v All Blacks 1973 game mentioned elsewhere on this site. His elusive sidestepping style so endeared him to the Welsh that he is reported to be known affectionately in Wales as Dai Duckham (Dai being the Welsh equivalent of David) Ken Wright deserves mention. The Australia v All Blacks 3rd Test at Eden Park, Aukland in 1978 features on the ABC DVD "Rugby in the 70s". In that game the third of Greg Cornelsen's 4 tries is scored as a direct reult of a Ken Wright sidestep. Missing out Melrose, Hipwell gets the ball away to Ken Wright at centre who slices through the All Blacks defence with a superb sidestep. Commentator - "Oh what a sidestep, Ken Wright". DVD player reads 2:6 42:30 Frik Du Preez. Referring to a game in the Lions tour of South Africa in 1971, Gareth Edwards says in his book "GARETH An Autobiography", 1978, page 76 that Du Preez was "a tremendous footballer" He reports that although Du Preez was tall and weighed sixteen stones "he could sidestep and swerve like a six-foot Gerald Davies". Shortly after, Edwards goes on to say "Sadly my admiration for Du Preez was then shattered int the second test...." - but that's another story. So there you have it - a small part of the sidesteps boom! Return from Sidesteps boom to History of rugby
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