The ACT Brumbies looked more like test dummies than rugby players at the AIS, but they hope the findings of an athletic study will help them reduce injuries and add speed and power.
Brumbies players have been working with the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, the AIS and ANU students to unlock secret weapons for the Super Rugby environment.
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Brumbies run through their paces at the AIS
Brumbies players have been contributing to research in the AIS Biomechanics lab.
Lock Sam Carter hopes it will help him become a more complete athlete as he aims to get back into the Wallabies side while athletic performance director Ben Serpell believes it will help with injury prevention and management.
Carter, James Dargaville and Andrew Smith were some of the players put through a series of sprint drills at the institute's indoor tracks with a 20-camera analysis system tracking every muscle movement and joint angle.
![James Dargaville being tested at the AIS.](http://web.archive.org./web/20180411111401im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/7/c/n/v/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt799i.png/1481348343961.jpg)
"It's to see where our weakness is when we run so hopefully it shows why I can't run [fast]," Carter joked.
"At the moment they're focusing on my running technique and trying to get me out of second gear.
"My training is aimed at becoming stronger through contact and being a bit quicker around the ground to become a bit more dynamic."
The Brumbies are tapping into the sports science industry in Canberra, inviting medical students from ANU and the University of Canberra to poke, prod and tape sensors to the players to gather data.
![Andrew Smith's running style was tested at the AIS.](http://web.archive.org./web/20180411111401im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/7/c/n/w/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt799i.png/1481348343961.jpg)
The Brumbies use an altitude chamber at the UC RISE centre at their training base and are collaborating with the ANU and AIS to find an edge.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has been pushing for cutting-edge training and preparation techniques to put his players in the best frame of mind.
Most professional sports teams average at least six hamstring injuries per season and the average return-to-play time is between three and five weeks. The Brumbies had one player miss one game with a hamstring injury this year.
"But we want to improve on that still," Serpell said.
"To do that we have to look at things in a lot more detail and we think we're going really well down that route by working with the AIS, ANU and UC RISE.
"From a performance perspective, we got some huge gains in terms of acceleration and getting more out of guys. We've got to go to the next level and that's what we're doing."
The Brumbies have two weeks of training left before they break for Christmas holidays and will return to their University of Canberra base in January with their Wallabies contingent back on deck.
The bulk of the squad has been laying the groundwork for success in the past few weeks, including sauna sessions before training and stints with scientists.
The reflective markers on their body send data to the scientists for speed, joint angles and muscle use to give a perfect picture of the players' movement.
"It's part of my PHD data collection, so I'm looking at the hamstring muscles as they're predisposed to injuries during running," said biomechanics student Claire Kenneally-Dabrowski.
"We want to better understand how they function during running so we can train them better and prevent injuries."
Carter is on a modified training program after playing for the invitational Barbarians side in Europe and a Wallabies XV in a midweek match.
The hard-working lock has been on the fringes of the Wallabies for the past 12 months after playing 13 Tests for Australia since making his debut in 2014.
He was one of Australian rugby's most consistent second-rowers during the Super Rugby season and led the Brumbies lineout, but was overlooked for Test duties by Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
Instead of sulking, Carter is getting back to work to add a new physical dimension to his game as he aims to win back his gold jersey.
"I've got an individualised program over the next few weeks and hopefully it pays off next year," Carter said.
"I want to become a better player and if working on my speed will help then I'll do it. At the moment my weakness is my speed and power through contact so hopefully if I can work through that, I can be a bit more of a complete athlete next year."
Dargaville and Smith hit nine metres per second on the track and are fighting for spots in a competitive back line that has several jerseys up for grabs following off-season changes.
Larkham has a wing spot to fill after the departure of Joe Tomane and the No. 10 and inside-centre jobs are also open.