Opinion
International Rugby
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.
26 Articles
Latest
17 days ago Autumn Nations Series
A team-by-team review of the Autumn Nations Series
76 days ago Gallagher Premiership
How much luck plays a crucial part in a team's fortunes in rugby
114 days ago Gallagher Premiership
How Leicester could replace Jasper Wiese with a ‘Moneyball’ approach
143 days ago Gallagher Premiership
There are a raft of players who deserve more playing minutes
Analysis
Eight of the best free agents on the rugby market
With the domestic season coming to an end there is a plethora of exciting rugby talent up for grabs, desperate for a new opportuni…
Sam Larner
01 Jun 2024, 1:27
Analysis
What assistant coaches actually do, and why Parling and Bleyendaal will succeed
The giant Englishman could drive Australia's lineouts to new heights, as could the former Munsterman with Leinster's attack.
Sam Larner
02 May 2024, 9:57
Opinion
Grassroots rugby 'needs to fit around people's lives or face further challenges'
Rugby's inability to adapt to changing times means the grassroots game is struggling as other formats prosper.
Sam Larner
24 Apr 2024, 8:09
Analysis
Ireland reign supreme but there is one area they're worse than Wales - Six Nations
Andy Farrell's back-to-back champions continue to set the standards but there is still room for improvement.
Sam Larner
19 Mar 2024, 4:42
Opinion
Are Wales on track to complete a successful rebuild?
Warren Gatland picked a callow, inexperienced side for this year's Six Nations and the jury is out whether their rebuild is on tra…
Sam Larner
14 Mar 2024, 17:17
Analysis
Are you not entertained by Steve Borthwick's exciting England? - Six Nations
For all the naysaying, the raw numbers show England's wow factor is growing.
Sam Larner
13 Feb 2024, 4:24
Analysis
A bluffer's guide to French teams in the Champions Cup
Who is in form and who are the players to watch among the eight French teams in Europe's elite competition?
Sam Larner
08 Dec 2023, 8:14
Analysis
Unsung, underpaid, overworked: Are analysts any closer to ‘solving’ rugby?
Analysis is now part of the game's fabric but how much does raw data move the game forward?
Sam Larner
30 Nov 2023, 4:03
Analysis
The end of the defensive line
The evolution of the defence took another marked step at the Rugby World Cup and 2024 will only see is progress further
Sam Larner
10 Nov 2023, 6:23
Analysis
How every nation ranks after the Rugby World Cup
Who is top of the class and who gets a big fat F? We assess each nation's campaign in France.
Sam Larner
01 Nov 2023, 8:04
Opinion
Why peaking for a World Cup could be pointless
Much is made of building one's form during the RWC cycle but the unpredictable nature of Test rugby can make coaches wonder if it …
Sam Larner
20 Oct 2023, 10:45
Opinion
In defence of Steve Borthwick
It hasn't been pretty, it hasn't won England a new army of fans and it won't win them plaudits from pundits but it could win a Wor…
Sam Larner
06 Oct 2023, 9:17
Opinion
Why rugby is better now than it's ever been
The strong wave of nostalgia tells many rugby fans that rugby was better back in the day, but the stats tell a different story
Sam Larner
06 Sep 2023, 15:03
Analysis
Rugby World Cup: A fantasy XV would be a poor team in reality
Fantasy rugby has created a warped view of the actual value of players.
Sam Larner
08 Aug 2023, 9:04
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, 3:32
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
14 Jun 2023, 1:56
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, 11:34
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, 2:40
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, 17:47
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
25 Feb 2023, 1:50
