Part 2 – “Prep, Practice, Perform“
Matchday: T – 4
Defence
From the original defensive list featuring the plays the opponent likes to use most, a final list is prepared ready to present to the players. At the start of this list, an imported PowerPoint featuring the statistics of the opponents gamebreakers is shown. Within the montage, KlipDraw is used to highlight key players and defensive mistakes that we will be hoping not to make. PowerPoints of our start position on certain lineouts are also imported into this presentation.
Footage from training is then reviewed to check our defence of these set plays. All lists are created on each individual coach’s PC, but then imported onto the head coach’s PC, which serves as the main presenting machine. This allows an easy transition from defence to attack to training review etc when it comes to the team meetings.
Matchday: T – 2
The head coach creates a list on the .pre that contains the kick offs that the opponents like to kick. KlipDraw will be used to highlight the main chasers to be wary of and whose start position might give away the kick off destination. The spotlight tool is really useful for identifying forwards and backs positions, which allows the game leaders to search for potential triggers which will shape our decisions in the match. Maybe they keep 3 players in the backfield for kick reception, which might shape our decision to run or kick the ball. PowerPoints are imported to highlight start positions for our players and how we plan to exit the ball from our half.
The same principle is applied to us kicking kick offs. We will use footage to highlight the opponents set up positions and identify areas/players to kick to. This is based on space left on the field and how they exit from certain areas. If their main exit option is a box kick (scrum half kicks from the ruck) to touch, then kicking off down the middle will force the opponent to adapt this plan or puts pressure on his execution.
Specific lists created on the players preview presentation are imported. Lists are selected based on opponent’s strengths and the number imported vary from week to week. Maybe they have very good breakdown pressure or as previously mentioned, they present certain counter attack opportunities. The “Player Counter Attack Opportunities” and “Player Breakdown Opportunities” lists are then presented by the players who created them. Because the players have owned the whole process, it often leads to a lot more engagement.
Matchday: T – 1
A prepared list on the referee for that match is presented. Statistics guide which penalties he tends to give and footage is found to highlight this. These clips are especially important in European games, as the referee will generally be communicating in English to the players. Through our capture process we have the referee audio embedded, so we often find examples of how that referee has communicated with us previously. “Roll away tackler” and key phrases that referees tend to use are highlighted to the players, most of whom speak excellent English, but sometimes referees will communicate in slang by habit “Outta there now”, so it's crucial our players are aware of this.
Matchday
All preview video is done by now. At the end of the week the head coach has a .pre with 15 – 20 lists, so he has a comprehensive overview of the week. We can then review this list and see if we would do anything differently next time or when we play the opponent in potentially 8 months’ time, we can see what we did last time.
The prep is done, we’ve practiced what we found and now, we just need to perform
Onto the live capture and analysis processes!
(You can read about those workflows and how performance analysis is used throughout the week in these previous blogs.)
We want to say a big thanks to Joe Larkin for providing us with these detailed insights on the ASM Clermont Auvergne preparation processes. Seeing how Nacsport presentation windows are continually developed and refined to get key messages to coaches and players is one of the best ways to see the clear benefits of performance analysis.
Joe and Franck empower the ASM Clermont coaches and players to create and refine these presentation windows themselves, either through their Nacsport Elite (coaches) or Nacsport Viewer (player) licences. It is a process that benefits every team we work with who does this, so we encourage you all to make the most of these workflows and see the power of presentations!
Find out more!
In the same week that this blog was released, we held a live interview and Q&A with Joe. Joe shared details of his analysis journey to Clermont, along with his experiences and advice gained along the way. He also demonstrated many of the processes you have seen above, before answering some fantastic questions from the audience who joined us live. Here is a little teaser of a great question, with an even better answer. Make sure to register and watch back the full event below!
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