Attacking the Space

Inside Rugby's Tactical and Data Revolution - 'Illuminating' Eddie Jones

By: Sam Larner, Mike Prendergast - introduction

Narrated by: Jot Davies

A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE WEEK

'Illuminating' Eddie Jones
'Compelling' Metro
'Essential reading... reveals rugby's secrets' Financial Times
'Well written, insightful and thought-provoking' The Guardian
'Fantastic, a must-read for rugby fans' Ben Youngs

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Does it matter which foot your fly-half kicks with? How can teams win matches when the clock stops? Why don't wingers actually play on the wing? Does having more possession increase a team's chances of winning?

Leading data analyst Sam Larner lifts the lid on international rugby, using his decade of experience at the professional level to reveal the tactical and data revolution that has taken the sport by storm. Sharing ground-breaking insight into the modern game, Sam explores the exciting innovations players and clubs are currently using to improve their gameplay. He analyses the metrics by which teams succeed and fail in their attempts to win metres, tries and matches, as well as why recent law changes are so important for rugby's development and what a data-driven future holds for the sport.

With each chapter focusing on a different match, such as France facing the All Blacks in 2023 and Wales' remarkable comeback against England at the 2008 Six Nations, Attacking the Space is revolutionary in its approach as the first book to tackle rugby's new obsession with data and tactics. It takes readers on a fascinating tour of modern rugby to offer a twenty-first century overview of one of the world's most exciting sports. This is rugby as you've never seen it before.©2026 Sam Larner

Critic reviews

The game of rugby has changed. Scrums take longer, we no longer ruck, and 9s put the ball into the second row. But it's still as intoxicating as ever. Attacking the Space is an illuminating description of how this has happened and where we go next.

It's not just that Sam is a rugby expert. It's that he can explain the game to fans, both new and old, in a way very few can. This is a brilliantly insightful read for anyone interested in rugby.

If you love rugby and always wonder why players/teams are playing certain ways, then this is a must read. Sam's detail and understanding of the game will open your eyes to see how we as professional players play the game.

Sam is one of the brightest minds in rugby, and it's no surprise that he has produced this invaluable book - a brilliant resources for anyone interested in rugby at the highest level.

Fantastic insight into how the game has evolved, a must-read for rugby fans.

A compelling new book... examines the type of processes which will go into players like regular wing Tommy Freeman and dynamic newcomer Noah Caluori

'[Larner] has a brain the size of a planet... [Attacking the Space] is well written, insightful and thought-provoking... Yorkshire-based Larner is a child of the digital generation. He loves data and knows the value of a box kick to the nearest decimal point... Very interesting.'

Attacking the Space is part of a trend aiming to satisfy sports fans' demand for more rigorous, statistical pundity. It's also the first book from a major publishing house to explore data in rugby... it is a book for those who want to understand what really happens on the pitch. Ahead of the Six Nations, it is also essential reading... Larner's book reveals rugby's secrets, and distils why the sport has never been better.

Sam Larner has, quite literally, written the book on data in rugby.