When I was a nipper…
Having spent nearly thirty years of my life banging on keyboards in an effort to persuade various computers to do what I want, not what I said, I retain a somewhat geeky interest in computer-related developments. It probably comes as no surprise, then, that I find the AI explosion over the last couple of years fascinating (while retaining a degree of scepticism over its usefulness).
Apart from mostly using Perplexity as my main search engine now, I’ve not delved too deeply into the likes of Claude and ChatGPT and the others, but NotebookLM from Google intrigued me. Most of the more recognised ‘AIs’ (I’ll use that term generically, rather than try to keep track of all the various flavours) go out into the big wide web and come back with all sorts of gibberish and random conspiracy theories to pollute their ‘thinking’ processes.
NotebookLM doesn’t do that: you upload some documents and websites to it, and it restricts its work to just those documents. Ask it questions, and its answers will be based solely on the context of whatever information you gave it. This makes it very useful as a tool for gleaning information from several disparate sources and for synthesising overviews and lines of argument.
In other words, the sort of thing I do when it comes time to write a season round-up…
🤔 What if I upload all my reports to NotebookLM and see what it says? 🤔
So I did.
Things to do on a wet Sunday
What follows are NotebookLM’s verbatim responses to some questions I asked it. You will notice that they are instantly recognisable as AI-generated text (that’s fine, I would always rewrite in my own style anyway), and it does make some mistakes. For example, at one point, it conflated the two away games at Leicester. In an earlier attempt, it also got players’ names wrong, mostly by attaching the wrong nickname to the wrong person. (I fixed that one by uploading an extra document listing the Dramatis Personae along with their nicknames.)
Let me say upfront that I am impressed with what it came up with. OK, it’s clunky reading, but if all you’re after is stuff to put in your own words, then there’s enough material for several articles.
So let me offer some examples of what it’s come up with, and at the end, I’ll leave a link to the notebook so those who are interested can have a go at asking questions themselves. (I’m using the in-built sharing option, and I have no idea what you can actually do via the link. If you do have a go, let me know via the medium through which you found this.)
All hail…
First of all, here’s the summary that it automatically generated from the documents I uploaded:
These match reports offer a detailed, fan-centric perspective on the Sale Sharks rugby club’s season, covering both their Premiership and European Champions Cup fixtures. The author tracks the team’s performance, highlighting key wins and frustrating losses, often linking outcomes to defensive discipline, attacking cohesion, and individual player contributions. Beyond game analysis, the reports touch upon the emotional experience of supporting the team, the impact of player injuries and international call-ups, and the broader issues within professional rugby, such as competition scheduling and the state of the women’s game.
How did Sale Sharks’ season start, and what were the early impressions?
Sale Sharks’ season started with mixed results and some concerns. The first report mentions a “squeaky bum time” win against Harlequins, highlighting the tension despite a new season and kit. The author also notes the poor weather and issues with the match day experience at the stadium, questioning future improvements under new ownership.
The second game against Saracens resulted in a defeat, described as a “painful watch.” The performance was characterised as a “curate’s egg,” with individual brilliance marred by errors and, crucially, a significant penalty count against Sale (fifteen to nine). This early report already identifies indiscipline as a major and consistent problem. Despite the loss margin flattering Saracens, the lack of bonus points from the first two rounds is noted, although the author maintains that wins are more important at this stage. There is a glimmer of hope, however, with praise for young players like Asher and Tumy.
Overall, the early impressions are of a team struggling with consistency and discipline, particularly in away games, and with a defence that is not as solid as in previous seasons.
How did Sale Sharks’ form change later in the season, particularly regarding their defence?
A significant upturn in form is noted later in the season, particularly in their defensive performance. Following a difficult period, the report on the Leicester Tigers game in December suggests a potential “renaissance,” with the “duck’s arse” Sale defence seemingly back. The author observes that Leicester, despite significant pressure and time spent near the Sale line, struggled to break through, which was a stark contrast to earlier performances.
This defensive improvement is even more dramatically highlighted in the report on the Bristol Bears away game in December. Sale “nilled” a highly attacking and free-scoring Bristol side, a feat described as a “defensive masterclass.” The report details the speed of the defence off the line, their ability to shut down options, and their scramble defence. This performance is presented as a prime example of their revamped defence being a major weapon. The author notes that starving Bristol of space and time was key to this victory and reflects how they had beaten Bristol in the past.
This change in defensive solidity is a key turning point identified in the reports, contributing to a more positive outlook and improved results in subsequent matches.
What are some of the key themes recurring throughout the reports?
Several themes consistently appear across the reports, reflecting the author’s focus and concerns. These include:
- Sale Sharks’ Performance and Form: A primary theme is the analysis of Sale Sharks’ on-field performance, tracking their wins and losses, bonus points, and position in the league table. The reports detail specific matches, individual player contributions, and the overall feeling about the team’s trajectory (e.g., early struggles, turning corners, potential for playoffs).
- Discipline: The issue of penalties and indiscipline is a major and recurring point of frustration for the author. They frequently lament the number of penalties conceded by Sale, linking it directly to missed opportunities and losses. This is seen as a consistent weakness that hinders the team’s potential.
- Defence: Sale’s defensive performance is a significant talking point. While initially highlighted as a weakness (shipping points, looking fragile), a marked improvement is noted later in the season, particularly in key victories. The shift to a strong, “duck’s-arse” defence is celebrated as a crucial factor in their success.
- Individual Player Performance: The reports often single out individual players for praise or criticism. Specific players like George Ford, the Curry brothers (Tom and Ben), Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Arron Reed, and others are frequently mentioned for their contributions, development, and impact on the team.
- Match Day Experience and Stadium Issues: Early reports touch on the match day experience, including weather-related inconveniences and concerns about the stadium’s facilities and potential future changes under new ownership.
- The Women’s Game: The reports also provide insights into the Sale Sharks women’s team, highlighting their struggles with defence and structural issues within women’s rugby in England. The author advocates for greater investment and support for the women’s game.
- Bonus Points vs. Wins: There is a recurring discussion about the relative importance of securing wins versus bonus points in the league standings, particularly in the context of Sale’s tendency to either win without bonus points or lose without securing any.
- Impact of Player Availability (Injuries/International Duty): The absence of key players due to injury or Six Nations call-ups is mentioned as a factor affecting the team’s performance and depth.
- Specific Tactical Observations: The author frequently makes tactical observations, such as the effectiveness of quick penalties, strategic kicking (Ford’s masterclass), the risks of running from deep, and the importance of support play and accuracy in the backs.
- Emotional Connection and “Squeaky Bum Time”: The reports are laced with the author’s personal emotional reactions to the games, often describing the tension and nervousness experienced as a fan, particularly during close finishes referred to as “squeaky bum time.”
Go have a look
This link should take you to the notebook. There are several more questions in there under the ‘Studio’ tab. It has even produced a complete, annotated cast of characters and places based on things I’ve mentioned. Read what it has already said and ask it questions of your own. I’d be interested to know what you make of it.
an old grey dog 