It was used in September on the set of Canal +. Figures and graphics in support, he had exposed his search for the “lightning”. A key word to summarize a game made of accelerations to manage the energy potential to the millimeter. Two months ago, he already had …
It was used in September on the set of Canal +. Figures and graphics in support, he had exposed his search for the “lightning”. A key word to summarize a game made of accelerations to manage the energy potential to the millimeter. Two months earlier he had already awarded the media present in Japan with an accounting decryption of the performance of the Blues together with Jérémy Chéradame, his “data scientist”.
The small exercise in communication – external and internal – pierces the desire for transparency. This does not deprive it of relevance, observes Philippe Saint-André, manager of Montpellier and former coach of the XV of France (2011-2015): “It is a pretty clever way of doing things that shows that they are at the forefront. “
“Rugby is a high-level sport in which communication is an important factor, says Sébastien Piqueronnies, manager of the Paloise Section. Grab the attention of the guys, you can stimulate a collective belief. “
“It’s a pretty clever way of communicating that shows they are on the cutting edge”
If perhaps not without ulterior motives, the use of figures speaks volumes about the place occupied by statistics in the Blues game project. Since the beginning of his tenure, Fabien Galthié has already stated on several occasions that he has anticipated the number of kicks to be taken, the famous kicking-game, in order to hope to win. He also regularly insisted on “KPIs”, the keys to collective performance that had to be ticked to hope to win internationally. And he precisely timed the “ball in play” sessions needed during the week to compete with this or that opponent.
At his hotel in Japan last July, the coach went further by revealing other rules. The one that tells you not to hold the ball for more than 22 seconds in the 22-22 area. Or the one that provides that no more than four fouls should be committed in this same area 22-22 under penalty of a penalty that gives birth to 70% of a try. A non-exhaustive list.
Common vocabulary
For greed, however, we could add a final example: that of the use of the game in “black”. Behind this name there is simply a game of aggression in the center of the field which, according to Fabien Galthié, ensures victory in 85% of cases as long as it represents 10% of his team’s initiatives. “We analyze a lot the“ stat ”and we treat it collectively, deciphered during this Japanese masterclass Jérémy Chéradame. There is hardly any individual data provided to the players. Sometimes it surprises them because they are used to receiving it. But for us we don’t care: we can see who is playing well or not. “
Piling up all this raw data can be confusing. But they reflect the Italian coach’s appetite for statistics. “Every coach has his hobbies,” admits Philippe Saint-André before recalling the obvious: “But it’s true that data has taken a primal place in rugby. “Translation? As nebulous as it may sound, this vocabulary forges the common language in the top 14 clubs.
“We also have very advanced filters, says Sébastien Piqueronnies. We are also working on the penalties suffered in Inter’s 22 meters, even if we don’t have the same relationship. For our part, we have to get closer to 5 or 6: in La Rochelle for example we only found two. And this is the first time this season that they haven’t had any impact on scoring. “
“In high-level sport, previous data are already obsolete”
“According to the players, we have the same use of statistics in Montpellier,” continues Philippe Saint-André. Expropriation, footwork, number of rucks on our court or in the scoring areas… There are really interesting things. Young players love it too. But you have to be careful how you use it – a guy standing right next to a ruck can do 15 tackles in a pick and go game without ever putting himself in danger. “
Statistics or forecasts
But if Fabien Galthié pushes logic further, it is because he has an additional resource in hand: time. “In the club we only keep the substantial marrow. We keep only a striking idea, observes Sébastien Piqueronnies. He has time to prepare for very intense sprints. All the statistics that he has been able to accumulate, all the beliefs that he has transmitted to his staff and his players, has a multiplied impact on the few weeks of international competitions. “
