1
Watch: Top 10 steps of the Super Rugby season
Every year uncovers new exceptional attacking talent, and it’s the sidesteps that end up on most highlight reels. The players with the hot feet have instantly become stars in the past, with Nehe Milner-Skudder in 2015 being the prime example. A number of players young and old showed their dance moves this season, so we thought we would count down the best of them.
ADVERTISEMENT
Here are the top 10 steps of the Super Rugby season.
10. Tate McDermott (Reds)
https://giphy.com/gifs/3WuYsGL9TOtNy4L7ky
The young Reds halfback mainly spent his debut season coming off the bench. Often the smallest man on the field, that didn’t stop McDermott providing the Reds some attacking spark.
In their first clash of the season against the Rebels in Melbourne, McDermott picked up a loose lineout ball and had a dart, throwing this dirty hop step that left Rebels prop Sam Talakai diving into a swimming pool. Unfortunately for Talakai, he didn’t take McDermott with him. The young halfback kept his balance and popped a pass away to Alex Mafi to open up the Rebels.
9. Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
https://giphy.com/gifs/1gRvnX78lkJUQXAM3V
The Sharks fullback Curwin Bosch had a breakout year in 2018, igniting the Sharks attack with speed from the back.
His dangerous running had most teams on high alert everytime he touched the ball on counter-attack, and this was certainly the case on this kick return against the Hurricanes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bosch pulled down the kick, escaping the first tackle before bouncing off the left foot to beat centre Vince Aso on the inside and then doing the reverse to fullback Jordie Barrett off the right. Jordie was left wondering where he was like a 5am feed in a strangers house.
Bosch’s double whammy was one of the best of season. Unfortunately, he didn’t score but the Sharks scored a couple of phases later to capitalise on the explosive break.
8. Semisi Masirewa (Sunwolves)
https://giphy.com/gifs/oFRnjwGCIAvINi8ppY
ADVERTISEMENT
The fleet-footed ex-Force winger ended up heading to Japan to join the Sunwolves after his Australian franchise got cut.
In Round 8 at home against the Waratahs, Masirewa finished this movement off from a Waratahs turnover by putting the Tokyo drift on Wallaby Kurtley Beale. Masirewa escapes an ankle tap from Naiyavoro and races away to score under the posts with a massive swan dive.
7. Stephen Perofeta (Blues)
https://giphy.com/gifs/cd1tf4kcmpPWH7EZSt
The Blues young flyhalf Stephen Perofeta came off the bench twice on the tour of South Africa and returned as the starting 10 for the rest of the season. His flair on attack sparked two Blues second-half comebacks, earning the trust of Tana Umaga and the Blues coaching staff.
Against the Stormers in Cape Town, Perofeta gave Siya Kolisi a taste of the Newlands turf with this ankle breaker. The Stormers captain will think twice about rushing the young playmaker after being nonchalantly discarded with a big left foot step.
One grass-fed steak minus the steak for Mr. Kolisi.
6. Waisake Naholo (Highlanders)
https://giphy.com/gifs/47LzcCWmJuRec5MKuS
The Fijian-born All Blacks winger was damaging all year down the right-hand side for the Highlanders but nothing illustrated his worth more than this move he worked in a tight five-metre channel against the Stormers.
Naholo puts the left-foot shimmy on his opposite number before shedding a further two tacklers down the sideline. He unselfishly provides inside to Aaron Smith despite being able to score himself in the corner, just so the Highlanders can score closer to the posts.
Admittedly, Stormers winger Raymond Rhule is not renowned for his defensive work which prevents this piece of play from ranking higher. All things considered, it was still one of the best steps of the year.
5. Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
https://giphy.com/gifs/d2iVDF5xT3rqgof3wM
The Crusaders first five keeps himself out of trouble with some of the smartest footwork in the competition.
Against the Stormers early in the season, Mo’unga scored this magic try stepping back off the right foot twice to leave three defenders stuck in concrete. The massive hole left by an overcommitted defensive line gave him an easy stroll over the line, but the explosiveness off the right foot and sharp change of the direction puts this play right up there.
He would, unfortunately, break his jaw late in this match which saw him miss four weeks of action but he returned to keep the Crusaders machine rolling to a first place regular season finish.
4. Curwin Bosch (Sharks)
https://giphy.com/gifs/82Sk8I7T4ZC2GyFV69
Bosch’s second appearance on the list comes from this electric kick return against the Highlanders.
The Sharks speedster scored extra points for turning this opportunity into five points by linking with flyhalf Robert Du Preez who finished the movement. Bosch sizes up Naholo perfectly and gets him with the big left foot step before ripping through the rest of the Highlanders forward pack.
3. Filipo Daugunu (Reds)
https://giphy.com/gifs/cepyDJmD3qL3bhPhv7
The ex-Fijian goalkeeper made his debut for the Reds in 2018 after impressing in club rugby last year. He struggled at times in defence but there is no questioning his attacking firepower after this 95-metre try in the dying stages against the Stormers.
Daugunu basically took Raymond Rhule’s soul with this deadly right foot step at full speed.
If this was a match-winning try right on full time it would be straight to number one on this list. Even though it was a special moment, the game was already out of reach for the Reds.
2. Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves)
https://giphy.com/gifs/229zUyEv3pzV8BNtyh
Not many players skin Wallbies fullback Israel Folau down a five-metre corridor, which is why this goose step gets the number two spot on this list.
Japanese winger Akihito Yamada is a known speedster in the Japanese Top League, scoring tries by the bucketloads for the Panasonic Wild Knights. Yamada was a standout of the Sunwolves first Super Rugby season, finishing as the competition’s top try scorer but he wasn’t included in the squad for the next season.
He was used sparingly this season but this moment of pure class shows why they need him.
1. Damian Willemse (Stormers)
https://giphy.com/gifs/NRtPmzwZMEpQ9vKq8o
There was one player who consistently showed outstanding footwork all season long, and that was whiz kid Damian Willemse.
The Stormers young flyhalf’s running game is his clear strength, using his explosive footwork to open up teams and fire late offloads. It was hard to separate just one moment, but this break against the Lions was right up there. He straightens to cut through the defence before putting on a trademark right step against the fullback. Seemingly stuck in traffic, Willemse finds a way to keep running, only to be brought down just short of the line.
https://giphy.com/gifs/1PgwpFTdbOaNswE013
At just 20 years of age, there will be plenty more dazzling runs from the young South African. After just two seasons of Super Rugby, he takes the crown as RugbyPass‘s best stepper in Super Rugby.
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
2 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments