RUGBY IS AN increasingly analytical and mathematical sport, something that is not always apparent to those of us on the outside of the sanctum that is the professional game.
Teams across the world work with different analysis systems, metrics and criteria, but the uniform factor between them all is the desire to be as effective as possible on the pitch.
The manner in which Joe Schmidt’s Ireland kick the ball contestably through garryowens and box kicks, for example, is partly down to the study the Kiwi head coach and his team of analysts have undertaken to learn what can make them a more efficient force.
Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht’s game plans are all heavily influenced by the need to hit the markers they have identified as being conducive to success.
The provinces’ coaches have access to immediate numerical analysis of where their teams’ performances are and were; lose and they can point to being 5% or 6% short in terms of their effectiveness then remedy those faults in the next game plan.
Indeed, earlier this season Munster head coach Anthony Foley revealed that his side had been 5% off where they needed to be in the narrow win away to Sale, referring to the fact that “the way we analyse the game, that’s the first time we’ve ever won at that percentage.”
Like in so many other domains, rugby is ever more of a numbers game.
This is a rapidly changing sport and Andrew Quick of Q & A software, based out of the UK, has attempted to help those of us outside the circle of knowledge to keep up to speed through his Rugby Analyser 54 app, available on Apple devices and currently in development for Android.
Quick worked closely with a major national rugby union in building the app, which essentially allows its users to calculate a team’s effectiveness by tapping on the screen of their tablet or smartphone to input relevant match events as they happen.
“[Professional] teams don’t just look at team performance in terms of tackles made, yards run, that sort of thing,” explains Quick. “They actually look at it more around patterns of play and effectiveness of team units.
“That’s what started the idea, that maybe there was a different way of looking at team performance that was more meaningful to a person watching a game. I had a few discussions with guys at this union and that’s basically the basis for the app.”
Rather than focus on tackles made, metres run and those increasingly meaningless and overemphasised stats, Rugby Analyser 54 takes into account teams’ movements between five distinct zones of the pitch and their success in making those transitions.
You take possession of the ball in a certain zone of the field and what do you do with it?” says Quick as a means of explaining the workings of the app. “Where do you end up?
“You might have 20 phases, but if you don’t make gains up the field, is that really effective use of the ball?
“Or if you just pump the ball downfield but your follow-up chase is not very effective and either the return comes back to where you started from or just in front of where you started from, is that an effective use of the ball when it comes to kicking?”
The Rugby Analyser 54 app also takes into account teams’ effectiveness in defence and is so named because hitting the 54% mark in the final analysis usually means a team will win the game in question.
Quick spent extended time engaging with his contacts within professional rugby to produce the algorithims that power the app, meaning users get a version of what the pros are working with.
“They use similar kinds of analysis, but far more sophisticated, with far more detail,” stresses Quick. “They do lots of comparisions and analysis on each game in terms of effectiveness and how effective the opposition were, where they need to improve.
“The algorithms behind it take quite a bit of refinement. We knew where we were aiming because of the conversations I’d had with the national rugby union.
If you get around 54% effectiveness, chances are you’re going to win the game, but it took a while to refine the algorithms from a touching-on-a-phone point of view.”
Quick says reaction to Rugby Analyser 54 has been “very, very positive” so far, with a range of professional, semi-professional and amateur coaches having shown interest and provided useful feedback.
Plans are already afoot to translate the app into Italian, French, Afrikaans, and possibly Spanish, while Quick says something similar could be developed for Gaelic football, hurling and even soccer in the future.
For now though, rugby is the focus and Quick is hopeful that the Android version of Rugby Analyser 54 might be ready in time for this year’s Six Nations.
Whatever about the professional coaches using the app, and the privileged knowledge that has gone into producing its algorithims, Quick is keen for rugby supporters to be the people who benefit from and enjoy the results.
“If you watch a match on TV, you can get bombarded with statistics, but it can be difficult to see how they actually relate to the game you’ve just watched and, potentially, the scoreline,” says Quick.
“The app can help you see that, say, Bath are more effective in the middle of the field but ineffective in the attack zone of the field – that’s why they’re not scoring. It does add a bit of analysis to what you’re seeing on the TV.
“It’s just another bit of information that you and I can use if we were discussing, for example, the last Connacht match in the pub.
“It can be very subjective watching a game, maybe the atmosphere is behind one team, whatever, but you can see that maybe they’re not using the ball as effectively as they could be. Having a factual analysis to back that up can be quite useful.”
Rugby Analyser 54 is available on Apple devices through iTunes for €3.99.
Even the great Sexton left Leinster to play for a better club!!
The analysis isn’t worth squat without application of a strategy that all the players buy into. Something is not right in Munster badly need to rebuild with 2-3 quality signings, Henshaw would be nice, and a top quality management team needs to be given 3 years minimum.
Why would Henshaw want to move to munster. When he has the best coach of all the provinces and the best youth development. A few big signings would be nice for connacht maybe cj stander and dave foley ?
Well said Harvey. He’d be mad to leave a great learning environment with Mils, Bundi, Pat and great players his own age around him. Time to put the idea of Connacht as a feeder club to bed. Munster should come up to Connacht and see how things are done with a small budget because that is where they are now. They could learn how to develop players like Leader, Marmion and Henshaw. Sort your mess out, especially your board, and leave Connacht grow.
Exactly they wont even invest in there own youth ie jj hanrahan he has the potential to be one of the best outhalfs in the country and he was let go. Problem with leinster and munster is they are looking for the quick fix to get them back winning trophies there two different teams than what they were a few years ago with different coaches . Things arent going to be built overnight for them .
Good things are happening at connacht and if the other provinces and the irfu come in and unsettle things they will have shown alot of disrespect for the people out west.
At the moment the irfu need pat lam more than he needs them. They would want to keep on his good side he is doing great things for irish rugby at the moment.
@theheathen you can also add Buckley to that list of home grown big hitters; also just look at the difference Connacht has been to Quinn Roux, he’s a new player since he moved!
Munster did all that developing years ago that’s how they got to the top so did Leinster the problem is now they have to try stay there which is not easy sucess leads to expectation!Connacht are just starting to build something now hopefully they succeed with the players they have but have bit to go yet don’t get carried away with yourselves!
A load of bull Harvey
Leinster get back the wining trophies? I think Leinster have been winning trophies season after season for a long time now.
Your problem is you know and I know that good young players want to do the best for themselves and play for the best teams. Munster and Leinster are the two biggest and best teams in all the Celtic nation’s history.
If a young player didn’t want to play for either of them he simply doesn’t have enough ambition
Henshaw to Munster and Marmion to Leinster is the way it will work out.
@Harvey Kinkel The Leinster development set up is the best in the country, yes the coach is sh*t but there are plenty of young guys coming through. They don’t need a “quick fix”, but it is always nice to augment a team with quality players such as Elsom and Thorn.
Munster on the other hand can’t develop a centre if their lives depended on it. JJ is a massive loss! Personally I think if they want to buy a centre they should try to get a bench warmer in Leinster or Ulster or go after Chris Farrell in Grenoble
@ Chris McDonnell it is ridiculous to say a player wanting to play for Connacht has no ambition. They’re not too far off the other Irish Provinces in the Pro12 and their coach is certainly better than the others. I’m hoping coaches like McCall Jackman and O’Shea feel homesick soon!
Yer all full of crap
@harvey great rugby jargon there harv,perhaps you could keep the replies a bit shorter with less big words for the ordinary supporter!!
I said henshaw would be nice. Well done Harvey you miss the point completely and then respond subsequently saying the management in Connaught and potential is better than munster. Ya haven’t a clue
Lay of the hash lad.