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‘Belongs at the Rugby World Cup’: 49ers star shines in Super Bowl with goosey
By Finn Morton
The San Francisco 49ers fell painfully short of victory in Super Bowl LVIII after Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led a memorable charge to glory in overtime.
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But before all the confetti and jubilation of the Chiefs’ second consecutive Super Bowl crown, which included images of pop star Taylor Swift celebrating on the broadcast, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey risked stealing the show.
McCaffrey, who was crowned the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year earlier this week, stunned fans at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium with one of rugby’s most iconic attacking weapons.
Christian McCaffrey is so good
pic.twitter.com/mvpqVUdVFU— PFF (@PFF) February 12, 2024
With the match locked at 19-all in overtime, and with the 49ers parked just inside their own half on a 2nd & 6 play, McCaffrey made a telling burst on the back of a perfectly executed goose step.
The goose step, which is more affectionally known in rugby circles as a ‘goosey,’ aims to throw a defender off as the attacker momentarily changes the speed at which they are running.
It was made popular by Australian rugby legend David Campese.
McCaffrey, 27, was knocked out of bounds about 25 yards away from the endzone. It didn’t end in a score but that hasn’t stopped rugby fans from praising the American for the iconic manoeuvre.
That goosey belongs at the Rugby World Cup!!
Huge play CMC 🔥🔥🔥#SuperBowlLVIII
— Mcebisi (@McMtshali) February 12, 2024
CMC GOOSE STEP GET THAT MAN INTO RUGBY
— this is what i do!!!! 🇲🇿🇲🇷🇨🇮 (@JKing_24) February 12, 2024
CMC goosie #Rugby #SuperBowl2024
— RT (@robtetreault17) February 12, 2024
CMC hitting rugby steps in the Super Bowl.
— POTHDC (@JaxNeutron) February 12, 2024
CMC HIT THE RUGBY STEP
— Southern Charm Sports (@SouthernCharmSp) February 12, 2024
CMC is the only NFL player I think would be a top tier rugby player.#SFvsKC
— OspreysEyrie Podcast (@OspreysEyrie) February 12, 2024
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On the back of McCaffrey’s heroics, the 49ers – let my second-year quarterback Brock Purdy – managed to take the lead with a field goal.
But the Kansas City Chiefs still had a chance to win it all. Then-two-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes could win another ring with a touchdown.
Mahomes overcame immense pressure to keep the game alive with a conversion on a 4th & 1 during their opening set of downs, and the momentum that generated carried the Chiefs down the field.
About three broadcast shots of Taylor Swift later, Mahomes made history with only a couple of seconds left on the clock by inspiring the Chiefs’ fourth Super Bowl win in franchise history.
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Mahomes threw a touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman Jr. The Chiefs are Super Bowl 58 champions after beating the 49ers 25-22 in overtime.
“Just the adversity we dealt with this year… I’ve just got to give God the glory, man,” Mahomes told NFL on Fox. “He challenged us to make us better.
“I’m proud of my guys, man, this is awesome. This is legendary.”
I’m struggling to understand the relevance of these NFL articles on Rugbypass.
There’s nothing uniquely rugby about the goose step. Any more than running fast in a straight line is unique to athletics. Sometimes people do things with their legs to evade another player in a variety of sports.
Are we short on content ideas?