An Australian university study has shown that the All Blacks do gain physiological benefits from performing the haka before the kick-off of Test matches.
The famous war dance has long been debated as a major factor behind making the All Blacks one of the most successful sporting teams in the world, winning 76% of matches over the past 120 years.
However, a study conducted by Vince Kelly at the University of Queensland’s School of Human Movement has provided some evidence to back up the theory.
Kelly put heart-rate monitors on players as they executed the haka to observe physiological changes.
“I was really surprised how high the heart rates reached in players performing the haka with some reaching over 90% of their maximum heart rate,” Kelly told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Players who perform the haka would have an advantage over their opposition as their heart rate is elevated in preparation for the match.”
Kelly said the advantage comes in as while performing the haka, the All Blacks are doing the equivalent of another warm-up, while their opponents are standing still and watching.
“Generally, teams do their warm-up and then probably come down a bit,” he said. “There’s a possibility that the team that’s doing the haka keeps those advantages of the warm-up.
“If you’ve got increased body temperature, that usually increases muscle temperature, which means the muscles are ready to exercise quicker.”
Kelly said instead of doing something to disrespect the haka, the best way to avoid its impact is for the opposition to keep their tracksuits on while it is being performed, staying warmer for longer.
“Potentially disrespecting the haka by not watching it or warming up while it is performed would just upset the players who did the haka more,” he said. “And then [the All Blacks] would probably be more pumped up to do well.
“[The tracksuit strategy] means the team doing the haka would lose the benefit of that warm-up effect because their core temperature and heart rate would be reduced.”
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