Opinion
Why rugby is better for its reliance on analysis and data
Rugby analysis will not lift you emotionally during a game but it will help you understand the game's intricacies and foibles
Sam Larner
15 Jul 2023, 1:32
Contributors
Sam Larner
Sam is an analyst and writer. He began is analysis career with Blackheath back in 2014 after a rugby injury. Despite occasional forays back into playing, he is much more at home behind a laptop or while coaching. He combines writing about rugby and working with players and teams to help them to find an advantage against opponents. His words have appeared on Planet Rugby, Rugby World, and the World Cup website.
Analysis
Has ball in play time reached its optimal level?
The 1995 Rugby World Cup averaged 26 minutes of ball-in-play time and that is expected to near 38 minutes for France
Sam Larner
13 Jun 2023, 23:56
Analysis
Does luck balance out across the season?
Does defence win championships, and is there any such thing as a lucky team? It's time to crunch the data for answers
Sam Larner
20 Apr 2023, 9:34
Opinion
How every nation ranks ahead of the Rugby World Cup
The quadrennial tournament is set to kick-off in France in only five months and some nations have more catching up to do than othe…
Sam Larner
08 Apr 2023, 0:40
Analysis
The analysts reveal the stats that matter for Super Saturday
What did the Six Nations teams do well and not so well? The data analysts unveils the killer stats
Sam Larner
16 Mar 2023, 15:47
Analysis
Using data to debunk commonly held Six Nations myths
There are a plethora of myths that surround playing styles in the venerable tournament, but which are based on fact and which are …
Sam Larner
24 Feb 2023, 23:50
Analysis
The insane skills that lit up the Six Nations
The first two rounds of the venerable tournament produced some jaw dropping pieces of skill from an array of Test talents
Sam Larner
09 Feb 2023, 23:37
