A paper presented at a symposium hosted in Wales prior to RWC 1999. Presented at a time when there was considerable debate about safety in rugby union scrums.

1. Performance Analysis
in Support of
Epidemiology and Prevention
Keith Lyons
Centre for Performance Analysis
University of Wales Institute Cardiff

2. For lack of a practical method of
determining longitude, every great
captain in the Age of Exploration
became lost at sea despite the best
available charts and compasses.
compasses
Sobel (1996:6)
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3. Performance Analysis
A disciplined insight that …
1. uses systematic observation …
2. to record performance …
3. in order to analyse it ...
4. to provide quantitative and qualitative
augmented information.
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4. Performance Analysis
1. Objective, valid and reliable observations.
2. Facilitate recall of performance.
3. Develop and transform performance.
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5. Performance Contexts
1. Training environment.
2. Preparation for competition.
3. Competition.
4. Analysis of performance data.
5. Dissemination and education.
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6. Methodology
Real-Time Real-Time
Hand Notation Computerised
Notation
Lapsed-Time Lapsed-Time
Hand Notation Computerised
Notation
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7. Game Content 1991-1999
1991 1995 1999
Scrums 34 27 27
Lineouts 38 37 31
Penalties 26 25 27
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8. Game Content 1991-1999
1991 1995 1999
Tries 5 6 4
Ruck/Maul 48 69 116
Ball in Play 24m 48s 26m 43s 31m 44s
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9. 1999 Developments: NZ v France
Event Game Total
Ball in Play 37m 50s
Kicks 27
Passes 317
Rucks & Mauls 159
Penalties 22
Lineouts 20
Scrums 30
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10. 1999 Developments: Australia v England
Event Game Total
Ball in Play 37m 20s
Kicks 73
Passes 331
Rucks & Mauls 151
Penalties 22
Lineouts 31
Scrums 24
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11. 1999
Rugby athlete performance.
Rugby handball expectations.
Continuity skills.
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12. Ball in Play
> 35m >32m >30m <30m
Australia 3 2 1 1
England 1 1 3 0
France 1 2 1 2
Ireland 0 2 3 1
NZ 2 0 1 1
Scotland 0 1 2 1
SA 2 1 1 1
Wales 0 1 0 5
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13. Continuity
> 140rm > 120rm > 100rm > 80rm
Australia 1 3 2 1
England 2 0 3 0
France 2 2 1 1
Ireland 0 2 4 0
NZ 1 1 0 2
Scotland 0 1 3 0
SA 0 2 1 2
Wales 0 0 4 2
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14. Performance Analysis
Identify structural invariance and variance
of games.
MACRODATA
Identify action components of games.
MICRODATA
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15. An Example: The Scrummage
In 18 games this season there have been
585 scrums.
The game average is 27.
The highest incidence is 38 (SA v AUS)
The lowest incidence is 15 (AUS v IRL)
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16. A GAME EXAMPLE (1998)
Total number of scrums 35
Total time taken 18m 56s
% of game 23%
Average duration 32.5s
Front Row engagements 51
Penalties and Free kicks 7
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17. Five Metre Scrum Data
Total 5 metre scrums 10
Total time taken 7m 06s
Average time per scrum43s
Clean scrums 1
Number of engagements 18
Collapses 6
Penalties 4
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18. Is there a Problem?
Non 5m Scrums 5m Scrums
Total scrums 25 10
Engagements 33 18
Clean scrums 10 (52%) 1 (10%)
Collapses 3 (12%) 6 (60%)
Wheels 6 7
Penalties 3 4
Av. Duration 28 seconds 43 seconds
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19. Dilemma?
If the scrummage is an essential and non-
negotiable feature of the game what can
be done about 5 metre scrums in terms of
risk management?
In clean scrums the average time from
engagement to put in is 3.5s and put in
to exit 3.5s.
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20. DATA DRIVEN INTERVENTION?
The significance of the scrummage as an
essential feature of the game.
The problems associated with 5 metre
scrums.
The transformation of a means of re-
introducing the ball into play into a
major scoring opportunity.
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21. We can develop a rich picture
of performance to support
Epidemiology and Prevention
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22. How?
1. Agreement about research agenda.
2. Rigorous systematic observation.
3. Shared operational definitions.
4. Innovative use of digital technology.
5. A forum to integrate our
understandings of performance.
6. World best practice.
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23. 23

24. www.hyder.com/rugby
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25. With his marine clocks, John Harrison
tested the waters of space-time. He
succeeded against all odds, in using the
fourth - temporal - dimension to link
points on the three-dimensional globe. He
wrested the world’s whereabouts from the
stars, and locked the secret in a pocket
watch.
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