Performing In Pre-Season

We catch up with Head Performance Analyst George Murray on his role with the squad and how it differs for the duration of pre-season.

During the season George and his team of performance analysts capture statistics and audio visual information from matches and training sessions which they relay to the coaching team.

Here we take a look at the role of the performance analysis department during pre-season preparations.

“At this time of year obviously our role changes considerably as there are no matches. The main focus of preseason is on our Strength & Conditioning team, in getting the players in shape for the season ahead, and we are there to facilitate and provide the tools that help advance players performance mainly through a learning process.

“We capture the data, cutting it, coding it and putting it into a library of information. We also make sure that our presentations and educational content, which coaches give to the group, are catalogued and stored so that all players can access the information.

“For us, a massive part of preseason is learning from last season. We should never pass a season by without taking lessons from both our successes and losses. As performance analysts we statistically find out the areas of the game where Munster fell behind in comparison to the best teams in Europe and we address those areas accordingly.

“We do this by searching through data, deciphering it and pulling the information that’s most relevant to us. First and foremost we take note of our own performance and then have a look, both visually and statistically, at what the opposition are doing. As well as our own bank of information, there are a couple of outsourced companies who provide us with data which we can then break down, to an individual player, an opposition team and to the tournament in question.

“The thing about rating our own performance is that we are in control of our own destiny, and if our standards fall short of other teams, then it’s up to everyone involved to push those standards up.”

Technological advancements no doubt aid the day-to-day collation and data review required for performance analysis, but George feels it should be there to complement rather than replace the natural reading of the game.

“Technology is always evolving and if you don’t go with it you get left behind very quickly. Trying to stay ahead of the curve is the main thing for us, but that said there has to be a lot of common sense in rugby when it comes to technology. Good and all as it is, you can’t let it overtake one’s natural feel and sense for the game. Technology I feel helps to bring us on, but fundamentally we need to achieve and maintain the basics and remember why we’re here, to perform successfully!”