title: Exploring and analysing the notion of worst case scenario in professional rugby union

authors: Haakma, Morgan Louise

subjects: Worst case scenario

abstract: Rugby union is an interval-based contact sport, demanding intermittent bursts of high-intensity running, collisions and impacts. Players need to be conditioned in a way that best prepares them for the demands of the game, and to perform repeated bouts of high-intensity workloads. Understanding the peak periods of ‘play’ and the ‘worst case scenario’ (WCS) in rugby union is essential to inform effective training interventions. Through a review of current literature around the notion of WCS and peak periods of play, limitations in existing research methods were identified. Specifically, limitations within the ability of global positioning system (GPS) units to quantify contact and collision workloads, and the error of data recorded over short distances and durations. Limitations within the methodology of fixed-time epochs and rolling-average epochs as a way of quantifying WCS were also explored.
After reviewing the current literature, this thesis encloses an original and innovative study. This research aims to determine a potentially more accurate representation of WCS by quantifying the maximal intensity locomotive demands during ‘ball in play’ (BIP) for a single play, and across a series of consecutive plays through an innovative rolling-MultiPlay epoch analysis (5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min epochs). This study will also give a contextual indication by identifying the segment of the game in which these maximal workload demands occur.
Data was collected for 51 professional rugby union players over the 2019-2020 seasons. All players wore GPS units (Apex Pro Pod, STATSport, Newry, NIR). All games were filmed and coded through the Sportscode software (Sportscode V8.9, Sportstec, Australia) which was then combined with GPS data from which drills were created for each BIP period. This data was then analysed through a bespoke software where the maximum BIP (MaxBIP) values for a range of GPS metrics were determined for each positional subgroup. A WCS BIP analysis was completed as well as a WCS MultiPlay analysis. Each half of the game was divided into 4 equal segments, and the segments where the MaxBIP values occurred were identified. 
Practical applications for indicative training drills for WCS BIP, WCS 5 minute drill, and WCS 20 minute drill are provided. In conclusion, there were no distinct patterns found within the data that suggests the WCS MaxBIP demand could occur in any segment of the game. Therefore, we believe it would be beneficial for players to be conditioned for these peak demands to occur at any stage of the game.

text: Exploring and analysing the notion of worst case scenario in professional rugby union Rugby union is an interval-based contact sport, demanding intermittent bursts of high-intensity running, collisions and impacts. Players need to be conditioned in a way that best prepares them for the demands of the game, and to perform repeated bouts of high-intensity workloads. Understanding the peak periods of ‘play’ and the ‘worst case scenario’ (WCS) in rugby union is essential to inform effective training interventions. Through a review of current literature around the notion of WCS and peak periods of play, limitations in existing research methods were identified. Specifically, limitations within the ability of global positioning system (GPS) units to quantify contact and collision workloads, and the error of data recorded over short distances and durations. Limitations within the methodology of fixed-time epochs and rolling-average epochs as a way of quantifying WCS were also explored.
After reviewing the current literature, this thesis encloses an original and innovative study. This research aims to determine a potentially more accurate representation of WCS by quantifying the maximal intensity locomotive demands during ‘ball in play’ (BIP) for a single play, and across a series of consecutive plays through an innovative rolling-MultiPlay epoch analysis (5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min epochs). This study will also give a contextual indication by identifying the segment of the game in which these maximal workload demands occur.
Data was collected for 51 professional rugby union players over the 2019-2020 seasons. All players wore GPS units (Apex Pro Pod, STATSport, Newry, NIR). All games were filmed and coded through the Sportscode software (Sportscode V8.9, Sportstec, Australia) which was then combined with GPS data from which drills were created for each BIP period. This data was then analysed through a bespoke software where the maximum BIP (MaxBIP) values for a range of GPS metrics were determined for each positional subgroup. A WCS BIP analysis was completed as well as a WCS MultiPlay analysis. Each half of the game was divided into 4 equal segments, and the segments where the MaxBIP values occurred were identified. 
Practical applications for indicative training drills for WCS BIP, WCS 5 minute drill, and WCS 20 minute drill are provided. In conclusion, there were no distinct patterns found within the data that suggests the WCS MaxBIP demand could occur in any segment of the game. Therefore, we believe it would be beneficial for players to be conditioned for these peak demands to occur at any stage of the game.

year: 2021

title: A small-N study of body weight during free-feeding in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

authors: Cameron, Kristie Elizabeth

abstract: Animals in captivity can develop physiological characteristics such as obesity that could negatively affect their health. In the captive brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), it is unknown what effect long-term free-feeding has on body weight. In this study, which took place over 12 months, three possums were fed according to a free-feeding regime. Food intake was measured daily, and the possums were weighed every four days. The possums all gained weight but showed bouts of stable body weights across the year. Stability was evaluated using mathematical models. It was concluded that long-term free-feeding is not recommended for animals-in-waiting for use in operant experiments to mitigate weight gain due to overeating.

text: A small-N study of body weight during free-feeding in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) Animals in captivity can develop physiological characteristics such as obesity that could negatively affect their health. In the captive brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), it is unknown what effect long-term free-feeding has on body weight. In this study, which took place over 12 months, three possums were fed according to a free-feeding regime. Food intake was measured daily, and the possums were weighed every four days. The possums all gained weight but showed bouts of stable body weights across the year. Stability was evaluated using mathematical models. It was concluded that long-term free-feeding is not recommended for animals-in-waiting for use in operant experiments to mitigate weight gain due to overeating.

year: 2022

title: Exploring synergies between Māori pedagogy and communicative language teaching

authors: Nock, Sophie

subjects: Māori pedagogy

abstract: The primary aim of this paper is to explore potential synergies between Māori pedagogy and what is known as ‘communicative language teaching’. A brief outline of some changes and developments in approaches to language teaching and learning over the last few decades is followed by a summary of some of the main characteristics of communicative language teaching (CLT) and of different approaches to the conceptualization of Māori pedagogy. Some of the primary characteristics of communicative language teaching are then explored in the context of Māori pedagogy and it is argued that there are some important synergies between the two.

text: Exploring synergies between Māori pedagogy and communicative language teaching The primary aim of this paper is to explore potential synergies between Māori pedagogy and what is known as ‘communicative language teaching’. A brief outline of some changes and developments in approaches to language teaching and learning over the last few decades is followed by a summary of some of the main characteristics of communicative language teaching (CLT) and of different approaches to the conceptualization of Māori pedagogy. Some of the primary characteristics of communicative language teaching are then explored in the context of Māori pedagogy and it is argued that there are some important synergies between the two.

year: 2009-02