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Fri 2 Oct 2015 | 04:29
Friday Funnies - Dan Biggar's bizarre kicking ritual, the Biggar Shuffle

10
Comments

The role of goal kicker in any team is a mentally tough one, and throughout the years, many rituals or "ticks" have been used to prepare a player for a kick.

These rituals have stemmed from the practical side of James O'Connor, to the downright ridiculous, yet seemingly effective, adaptation of Rob Cook.

Last Saturday saw the dawn of another bizarre pre-kick routine, from Wales' stand-off Dan Biggar. Needless to say, the internet took over and after Biggar kicked seven penalties and a conversion in his country's 28-25 win over England, there was plenty of time to share random tweets, memes and in the case of down below, music videos about it.

Jonny Wilkinson's famous stance caught on, but we doubt this will be the case with Biggar.

He was at it against last night against Fiji, as seen above, and only he himself is likely to know the significance of such a bizarre looking ritual. His impeccable form off the tee is clear proof though that whatever it is he does, it works. Now, do the Biggar Shuffle.

 

EXTRA: A splitscreen look at four different kicking styles

Posted By: Stephen Brunsdon

10 Comments

  • 10stonenumber10
    10:37 AM 04/10/2015

    Rugby is very different to a football strike. Did you ever see the clips of Beckham and DC (or was it JW?) kicking rugby balls? You'd think a man with a touch like Becks would make light work of it, but he was scuffing it along the floor, hooking and slicing like a fishing boat sushi chef.

    Rugby off the tee is more like a golf swing, your body alignment controls the accuracy, controlled chaos to try and put as much weight behind the ball as possible... compare that to a football penalty, where you mask your intentions and alignment and rely on your foot for direction. A bent ankle is useless for power, but will fool a keeper. Unless you are Daley Blind, you don't tend to pass more than about 15-20m anyway, and it needs to be controllable by the receiving player.

    You get more distance from kicking a ball that leans forwards, something to do with the rebound from the combined seams and the sweet spot roughly 1/4 of the way up the ball. With all the weight at the back of the ball, it is much easier to mis-hit it, and a spinning rugby ball will curl at right angles if you shank it enough!!

  • mozz87
    3:08 PM 03/10/2015

    Yeah he defo seemed a bit of a prick in the early days but remember he's only 25 now so i guess he was just a kid back then! Now he's playing some of the best rugby out there, toughest 10 I've seen in years and I reckon if he keeps this form he's a shoe-in starter for the next Lions.

  • welshblue
    12:09 PM 03/10/2015

    You are correct..he used to be a moody whiny knob in his early Ospreys days- arrogant and complaining about team mates'/ref's decisions. Last few years he's been a changed man (maybe dancing was his awakening?) and is in the form of his life, won't be long until we start seeing headlines of him being approached by French clubs..

  • andinov
    7:26 AM 03/10/2015

    The original in my book was neil jenkins

  • 6:32 AM 03/10/2015

    He's not missed in the tournament so far. Whatever works.

  • 10stonenumber10
    10:38 PM 02/10/2015

    That shuffle is straight out of a ket-soaked Deep House rave. All he needs is a pair of Huaraches and a 5 panel... instant DJ career.

  • iluvyomumma
    10:32 PM 02/10/2015

    Coming from a (still bitter!) goal-kicking Englishman who has played against Dan at youth level: Not sure how any english fan can take the p*** out of his style when he is that accurate. Respect

  • 10stonenumber10
    9:45 PM 02/10/2015

    It comes naturally. I used to spend hours kicking at posts as a teenager. I used to turn up 2 hours early to games to get some practice in.

    It doesn't mean i'm a good kicker, but it became such a practiced movement that a foot out of place by just 10mm feels "off". It is all psychological, rugby is a mind game.

    It was a sign of the times when I was playing with my much younger cousin, he was trying to emulate Farrell's stance and psycho eyes (Faz is his hero). I have no idea what they teach kids in schools though, he is 1st XV for his age group, has a kicking coach, yet was placing the ball horizontal on the most complicated tee i have ever seen... ball never left the ground in 6 attempts. I chucked the tee out, placed the ball vertical on a cone, no lean in any direction, and first shot he cleared the posts from 30m.

  • stroudos
    7:32 PM 02/10/2015

    This bloke used to be a bit of a knob didn't he? Can't remember what he did to incur my displeasure now. I find I admire the guy quite a bit these days. Aside from this comedy routine, he's playing some nice rugby and seems quite modest with it. As for the kicking set-up, it's hilarious to watch someone look so much like he's absolutely bricking it, then calmly slot 8 kicks from 8. Not that I was exactly pissing myself laughing the other night.

  • drg
    5:55 PM 02/10/2015

    It's quite weird.. I often wonder how they develop that style. I'm not a kicker, but I often do get desires to go to the posts early one morning and just have a play around kicking the ball... I have no idea how I could develop a 'style' like that though...

    Jonny Wilkinson used to do the cupped hands thing, with a little shuffle... I think that changed over the years though.

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