Amlin Opta Index

Also featuring are the Samoan duo, Henry Fa'afili and Alfie To'oala from Amlin Challenge Cup team, Leeds Carnegie.

Based on the Amlin Opta Index's unique mathematical formulae which allocates performance points to players, Foden accumulated 408 points in Northampton's Heineken Cup Pool 1 victory over the Cardiff Blues last month. He made 108 metres from eight carries, made three clean breaks and beat seven defenders during another impressive display.

Meanwhile, Toulouse and France back row, Louis Picamoles, emerged as the leading player from round four. Picamoles completed an outstanding 26 carries for the Heineken Cup Pool 6 leaders in their win over Glasgow Warriors.

Currently, heading the pack in the Index's Top Ten Forwards of the Season is Leinster's dynamic back row, Sean O'Brien, while Toulouse playmaker, David Skrela, currently leads the way in the Top Ten Backs of the Season table.

Apart from unearthing a host of valuable statistics from the last rounds of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup, this week's Amlin Opta Index provides in-depth analysis of the round five Heineken Cup games between Leinster Rugby and Saracens, Toulon and Munster Rugby and Glasgow Warriors and London Wasps, as well as the Amlin Challenge Cup clash featuring Exeter Chiefs and Bourgoin.

To access all the information from this week's Amlin Opta Index, please click here.

AMLIN OPTA INDEX - explanatory notes

Amlin, title partner of the Amlin Challenge Cup and premium partner of the Heineken Cup, has joined forces with Opta to create an official ERC index - the Amlin Opta Index.

The Amlin Opta Index is a unique study differing from any kind of previous statistical rugby analysis. Taking conventional match statistics to a new level, it compares the performances of players competing in the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup generating enhanced understanding of elite performance and stimulating debate among rugby fans and media.

The Index is based on several years of historical data from both European competitions, which is overlaid by the team and player statistics detailed below and combined with a series of co-efficients to reflect the true value of each action:

Stage 1: On a round-by-round basis, all games across both European competitions are analysed using a post-match system that provides detailed statistical and individual scoring information. Each individual action (e.g. try, missed tackle, offload, break, assist) is then assigned a points value depending on the relative importance of the action. Points are weighted against the time in the game that the event took place, the match score at the time and the position on the pitch.

Stage 2: Due to the varying levels of teams competing in the European competitions (particularly in the pool stages), the Amlin Opta Index is also driven by co-efficients which factor in team and player strength into the analysis.
For example, a co-efficient for each of the four domestic leagues has been developed to work out the relative strength of the Aviva Premiership, the Magners League, the Top 14 and the Super 10 in Italy using results of matches between teams from different leagues. This means that the analysis takes account of the differences of opposition playing in the European competitions. The rating system would be based on a team's previous results and current league position.
This allows the analysis to be presented as a fair and accurate reflection of player performance, a unique way of objectively analysing elite European club rugby.