 Statistical Rugby -by Frangos
Nick Frangos - the brain behind Old Hararians rugby success.
As an imperious and highly talented batsman, Nick Frangos was without doubt, one of the better cricketers to have played for Rhodesia in recent years.
Yet somewhat conversely, it is an innovator of rugby coaching techniques that is today making his mark on Rhodesian sport.
For the past two seasons Frangos has coached Old Boys of Salisbury to an almost unprecedented string of successes in local competition and against visiting sides, culminating in last week's memorable win over Stellenbosch University .
Frango's dedication to his team is complete. He is actively involved in rugby almost everyday of the week, and is in daily contact with club captain Brian Murphy.
His methods are largely new, very much of his own devising and successful enough to have attracted attention in the highest circles. Already he has been invited to handle the Rhodesian backs prior to their two most recent matches.
The Frangos method is best described as ‘statistical rugby'. It is based on an incredibly comprehensive report, which he draws up after every game, detailing the precise tally and results (down to whether the side won ‘good ball or bad' of SPORT scrums, line-outs, second phase movements, and penalties.
The report includes numerous graphs and lucidly written summaries on the performance of the team as a whole and of individual members. Every Tuesday after practice it forms a starting point for discussion in which coach, captain and team review their strengths and weaknesses, and plan the required improvements.
The preparation that went into the Stellenbosch match is worthy of an article itself.
Form a contact in Cape Town , Frangos received a five page letter on Stellenbosch rugby. The contents were analyzed and confirmed by Old Boys players, Preston Robertson and Des Christian, who have both had wide experience of Western Province of rugby.
Finally, Frangos attended the first Stellenbosch match in Salisbury and drew up a run-of-play graph detailing every movement of the entire game. From it he found that the university built their attacks around second phase possession, and planned his counters accordingly. Not surprisingly, Stellenbosch played exactly as Frangos had anticipated, and suffered the only defeat of their Rhodesian tour.
Although he admits that the Old Boys approach to rugby is extremely scientific. Frangos does not see it as stifling individuality.
“We are never too inflexible,” he says, “and once the team is on the field the captain Is allowed to change tactics as he sees fit.”
Frangos is emphatic that his job is made easy by the attitude of his players. “They are dedicated to becoming the best club team Rhodesia has ever had.”
Old Boys start training in January under a physical fitness specialist, and when Frangos takes over three weeks before the first game of the season, he is able to concentrate at once on tactics. Two practices a week are standard drill, but he calls three to four during the week before a hard match.
Frangos attributes a great measure of the team's success to Brian Murphy __ “one of the most dedicated and finest captains I have come across in any sport.”
Frangos says he does not aspire to any grater heights as a coach. Nevertheless, it seems more than likely that this deep thinking student of rugby, who was prevented by injury from progressing beyond first-league as a player, and has read only one rugby book in his life, could have a profound influence on the game he describes as “the most creative of all”
Gavin Rike |
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