Player Rotation?

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Interesting figures.
Perhaps the details about Euan confirms his departure?
Lobbe is also a suprise.
As you say also interesting to see how some of the "what shall we do if they leave" players have actually been unnoticed.

Good work and Thanks

If your featuring rotation then maybe the England and Scotland games are material to any discussion. Its not rotation when the internationals are playing punishing games elsewhere.

Eif,

I was looking at this purely from the data that I record for the MoTM polls. The result is that even just within the Saints games we have no discernible increase in rotation and add to that we have had more players away playing high intensity international games.

I suspect we will need to increase rotation soon.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

Interesting how little game time Ansbro get's with you guys. Has he been injured this season?

I know he played for Scotland but it seems very little game time for such a good player.

“I believe it might have been said before, but there is something special happening at Saracens, and I want to be part of it.” - Nils Mordt

McSaracens - Tim's stats only cover games started, Joe tends to be on the bench (covering wing/centre) so often gets 20 minutes at the end of the match. I feel he's a player we risk losing unless he gets some more starts though...

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Thansk smurf! I guess the problem for Ansbro is that you have Jon Clarke and James Downey who are IMO two of the better centre's in the league (and with neither playing internationals he doesn't really get a look in)

Ansbro is out of contract as well.

“I believe it might have been said before, but there is something special happening at Saracens, and I want to be part of it.” - Nils Mordt

McFez,

Joe is a special player.

He has a special clause in his contract that says, in special circumstances, he can be brought on to inflict something specially lethal to the opposition at the next game against the Something Fezlikes...

Everybody in rugby can see there is nothing 'special' happening at Saracens...

Dom why the bad feeling?

I was just making the point that Ansbro is a very good player and is out of contract. Fact is that if he isn't getting game time at Saints then someone will look to snap him up. That doesn't mean that Saracens are sniffing round him, just I rate him highly.

And we don't want another Soane gate do we!!!

“I believe it might have been said before, but there is something special happening at Saracens, and I want to be part of it.” - Nils Mordt

Smurf was exactly right the stats are for the players that start and make it to half time. Replacements in the first half are included as they played more of the game.

I think you were on the wrong end of an attempt at humour. Doesn't always work in the written form.

I am please with how my new stats gathering process is going and am sure there will be more to come over time.

I have now completed the catch up of last season and will write up the details some time over the holiday period.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

Tim it's a good article and is quite interesting when you compare and contrast the differing approches with regards to selection from 'our' two clubs.

“I believe it might have been said before, but there is something special happening at Saracens, and I want to be part of it.” - Nils Mordt

Tim is right on both counts - humour doesn't always work in the way intended, and we will have to rotate more this season.

It looks like we will have 2 postponed games to rearrange, plus a glut of Heineken, LV= and Prem games at the business end of the season, not to mention 5 players (including Joe) being shipped off to play in the 6N.

We have a good squad where there is serious and intense competition in most positions. It is a highly fit and well prepared squad but, inevitably, injuries will occur.

Joe is a centre (and occasional wing), but this is not the time to break up a functioning centre partnership, so he will need to be patient. Saints have been patient with his development, so let's hope he is prepared to wait his turn here (no guarantee in the professional world).

If not, so be it. He can go somewhere special if he likes...

I am just glad that this has sparked some debate. Makes the hours collecting the data worthwhile.

I somehow suspect that come the end of the season we will have used more players than last season.

The other thing I notice is that only Joe Gray (1) and James Cannon(2) could be described as academy players as I think Courtney was promoted to the full squad at the start of last season.

In comparison this season we have had starts from Ben Nutley (1), Greg Tonks (5), Matt Cornwell(1) and Jamie Elliot (3) from the academy plus of course Dan Sanderson

So less players used but more from the academy.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

Shouldn't that be "fewer players used..."?

Just trying to keep the debate going... going...












Gone

It should indeed. I was predicted a C if I was lucky at O Level for English. I think my result of an A gobsmacked most people including my parents and teachers and especially me



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

Tim, you may make tiny, insignificant errors in syntax, but the stats you provide are hugely interesting and have touched a raw nerve of curiosity with me.

Is it right to assume that most rugby clubs in the higher divisions record and collate detailed statistics? I think they should - and I'm sure Saints do this.

It would be fascinating, if we could garner the data, to know in different games, how long the ball was in play (this indicates the style of game); how many kicks found touch, or were returned; plus the usual stats of scrums and lineouts won.

With the holiday period impending, and as a break from work, I would love to pore over masses of stats about such matters as:

Who carried the ball most in each game?
Who tackled most?
Who covered most ground?
Who caught most balls?
How many times did the referee whistle?!

Trivia, perhaps, but I wish to feed my creative side!

St Dom,

If you feel the urge to compile it ESPNScrum.com record much of that detail for (I think) all televised games. Hopefully this link will give an example:

[www.espnscrum.com]

Clegthorpe - Thanks for that - I certainly do not have those stats.

You could also look up statbunker - but they seem to be in the middle of an upgrade to iphone apps.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

Great find, Clegthorpe. I can see many happy hours examining the Saintly navel via ESPNscrum... Thankyou!