ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Culture
MUSCLE MEMORY
Hagley Park regulars were treated to another masterclass in nostalgic footwork today.
This week it was 33-year-old Christchurch local Rhys Watson who turned his sluggish 5km jog into a highlight reel which looked like it was straight out of rugby’s golden era.
“It’s pure muscle memory,” he said, wiping sweat from his forehead after side stepping a handful of imaginary defenders.
“Back in the day, I played First XV for Shirley Boys’ High. Once you’ve sent one poor lad flying with a side step, it’s hard to shake the habit,” Watson recounted, also continuing to step side on the spot and fend off more imaginary would be tacklers with ease.
Watson, who hasn’t played an actual game of rugby since 2009 admits he throws in the occasional sidestep to remind himself – and anyone watching – of his supposed glory days as a high school rugby player.
“You should have seen me in my college years. I was putting in the Skudder-step before it was a thing,” he said before raffling off details about some of his most memorable tries.
“Honestly, Nehe Milner-Skudde probably watched tapes of me!”
More to come.
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