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Network Centrality and Core-periphery Analysis to Clarify the Tactics for Try in Rugby World Cup 2019

Received: 7 January 2021    Accepted: 14 January 2021    Published: 28 January 2021
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Abstract

After the first World Cup 1987, rugby undergoes rule revisions aimed at more dynamic games. There have been some analyses of the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) so far, but not many ones as detailed dynamic network structure of tactics concerned with selected attack and defense areas, plays, and human resources. In current study, the tactics for try in Rugby World Cup 2019 was investigated by network centrality, core-periphery analysis and correspondence analysis. Bootstrap test and ROC analysis were used to validate the data of try contribution structure. The average score of try balance of final 8 teams was “3.94” and that of “not win” teams was “-2.23”. We categorized these indices into team performance, and tested Monte Carlo methods with bootstrap hypothesis testing to assess the standardized values. Furthermore, to test the precision of sensitivity and specificity of standardized try balance values, the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the receiver–operator curve (ROC) analysis was executed. In final 8 stage, the feature of tactics for try in first 20 minutes and last 20 minutes were analyzed. The results suggested the tactics of “attack channel diversity” in first 20 minutes and tactics of “defense and substitute diversity” in last 20 minutes. In addition, network correspondence analysis of the top 4 teams’ performance in the tournament yielded interesting results regarding tactics of the attack and defense methods, and of the transition of human resources.

Published in American Journal of Sports Science (Volume 9, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12
Page(s) 8-16
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Network Centrality, Core-periphery, AUC Curve of ROC, Correspondence Analysis, Rugby World Cup 2019, Performance Analysis

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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Koh Sasaki, Takumi Yamamoto, Ichiro Watanabe, Mitsuyuki Nakayama, Kensuke Iwabuchi, et al. (2021). Network Centrality and Core-periphery Analysis to Clarify the Tactics for Try in Rugby World Cup 2019. American Journal of Sports Science, 9(1), 8-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12

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    ACS Style

    Koh Sasaki; Takumi Yamamoto; Ichiro Watanabe; Mitsuyuki Nakayama; Kensuke Iwabuchi, et al. Network Centrality and Core-periphery Analysis to Clarify the Tactics for Try in Rugby World Cup 2019. Am. J. Sports Sci. 2021, 9(1), 8-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12

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    AMA Style

    Koh Sasaki, Takumi Yamamoto, Ichiro Watanabe, Mitsuyuki Nakayama, Kensuke Iwabuchi, et al. Network Centrality and Core-periphery Analysis to Clarify the Tactics for Try in Rugby World Cup 2019. Am J Sports Sci. 2021;9(1):8-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12,
      author = {Koh Sasaki and Takumi Yamamoto and Ichiro Watanabe and Mitsuyuki Nakayama and Kensuke Iwabuchi and Takashi Katsuta and Ichiro Kono},
      title = {Network Centrality and Core-periphery Analysis to Clarify the Tactics for Try in Rugby World Cup 2019},
      journal = {American Journal of Sports Science},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {8-16},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajss.20210901.12},
      abstract = {After the first World Cup 1987, rugby undergoes rule revisions aimed at more dynamic games. There have been some analyses of the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) so far, but not many ones as detailed dynamic network structure of tactics concerned with selected attack and defense areas, plays, and human resources. In current study, the tactics for try in Rugby World Cup 2019 was investigated by network centrality, core-periphery analysis and correspondence analysis. Bootstrap test and ROC analysis were used to validate the data of try contribution structure. The average score of try balance of final 8 teams was “3.94” and that of “not win” teams was “-2.23”. We categorized these indices into team performance, and tested Monte Carlo methods with bootstrap hypothesis testing to assess the standardized values. Furthermore, to test the precision of sensitivity and specificity of standardized try balance values, the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the receiver–operator curve (ROC) analysis was executed. In final 8 stage, the feature of tactics for try in first 20 minutes and last 20 minutes were analyzed. The results suggested the tactics of “attack channel diversity” in first 20 minutes and tactics of “defense and substitute diversity” in last 20 minutes. In addition, network correspondence analysis of the top 4 teams’ performance in the tournament yielded interesting results regarding tactics of the attack and defense methods, and of the transition of human resources.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Network Centrality and Core-periphery Analysis to Clarify the Tactics for Try in Rugby World Cup 2019
    AU  - Koh Sasaki
    AU  - Takumi Yamamoto
    AU  - Ichiro Watanabe
    AU  - Mitsuyuki Nakayama
    AU  - Kensuke Iwabuchi
    AU  - Takashi Katsuta
    AU  - Ichiro Kono
    Y1  - 2021/01/28
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12
    T2  - American Journal of Sports Science
    JF  - American Journal of Sports Science
    JO  - American Journal of Sports Science
    SP  - 8
    EP  - 16
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8540
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajss.20210901.12
    AB  - After the first World Cup 1987, rugby undergoes rule revisions aimed at more dynamic games. There have been some analyses of the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) so far, but not many ones as detailed dynamic network structure of tactics concerned with selected attack and defense areas, plays, and human resources. In current study, the tactics for try in Rugby World Cup 2019 was investigated by network centrality, core-periphery analysis and correspondence analysis. Bootstrap test and ROC analysis were used to validate the data of try contribution structure. The average score of try balance of final 8 teams was “3.94” and that of “not win” teams was “-2.23”. We categorized these indices into team performance, and tested Monte Carlo methods with bootstrap hypothesis testing to assess the standardized values. Furthermore, to test the precision of sensitivity and specificity of standardized try balance values, the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the receiver–operator curve (ROC) analysis was executed. In final 8 stage, the feature of tactics for try in first 20 minutes and last 20 minutes were analyzed. The results suggested the tactics of “attack channel diversity” in first 20 minutes and tactics of “defense and substitute diversity” in last 20 minutes. In addition, network correspondence analysis of the top 4 teams’ performance in the tournament yielded interesting results regarding tactics of the attack and defense methods, and of the transition of human resources.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Research Center of Health, Physical Fitness and Sports, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

  • Department of Physical Education, National Defense Academy, Yokoasuka, Japan

  • Department of Physical Education, Tokyo City University, Tokyo, Japan

  • High Performance Committee, Japan Rugby football Union, Tokyo, Japan

  • High Performance Committee, Japan Rugby football Union, Tokyo, Japan

  • High Performance Sport Centre, Japan Sport Council, Tokyo, Japan

  • Governing Board, The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tokyo, Japan

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