WXV Round 2: The Surprise Blockbuster; Samurai v Jaguars

[Purple 77]

Normal full lockout on Friday night :)

That was an awesome Round 1! It only gets better from here  :D

Round 2, AFL Round 2

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Beijing Thunder	Dublin Destroyers	Beijing Olympic Park, EurAsia	1  v  3
Berlin Brewers	New York Revolution	Berlin Olympic Stadium	4  v  1
Buenos Aires Armadillos	Mexico City Suns	Estadio de River, AAP Alliance, Americas	1  v  3
Cairo Sands	PNL Reindeers	Borg El Arab Stadium	2  v  2
Christchurch Saints	Cape Town Cobras	AMI Stadium, AAP Alliance, Africonia	1  v  0
London Royals	Toronto Wolves	London Olympic Stadium	1  v  3
Moscow Spetsnaz	Seoul Magpies	Luzhniki Stadium, EurAsia	4  v  0
Pacific Islanders	New Delhi Tigers	Linkbelt Oval	1  v  3
Tokyo Samurai	Rio de Janeiro Jaguars	Tokyo Olympic Stadium	1  v  0

Beijing would be thrilled with last week's performance; what better way to start the season than to post a score that would have been it's third highest in its previous season? Well, I suppose to post an even higher score... and that's exactly what the Thunder need to take down Round 1 top scorers Dublin. The Destroyers claimed it all last week; coach of the round, Team of the Week representation, a rising star nomination to Jacob Weitering, the breaking of a 4 year duck and already the top spot on the ladder. That's the better way to start the season I guess. But really, for the first time since arguably the beginning, Beijing are a genuine chance to take Dublin down, especially with captain Ward at the helm and his motley midfield crew. Should the Thunder defence get up, they just might do it. But I'll play the probabilities and back Dublin to make it two in a row.

Berlin was caught drinking its own bathwater all pre-season it seems; flaunting an experienced and alleged best XV it's ever had whilst failing miserably to deliver that in scoring it what would have been it's worst home and away score since 2014. Much of that would be credit to Captain Fyfe producing his worst performance since 2013, and you would be right in saying this experience has burnt the coach so much that he probably won't be captaining this match. The Brewers need to do much more if they are to make the finals that they assumed they would make, and they face another team whom would think they're a good chance for finals as well in New York in what is an elimination final rematch. That game was decided on Berlin's HGA and New York would be filthy about it. Having scored the 3rd highest score last week, the Revolution are in prime position to take revenge on the Brewers whose last 3 matches have been decided by less than 50 SC points. Who will win? Well, I'm banking on my Brewers to wake up this week, so I'll tentatively (and with less noise this time) back them to win.

Bueons Aires weren't too bad last week; notching up the 9th highest score of the round and a score that would have beaten all but one of their scores posted last year. Captain Pendles was a little down than usual, so presuming he'll get back to his Pendles ways, there is cause for confidence that the Armadillos might hit the scoreboard a little harder this week, because they'll have to. The Mexico City Suns were challenged by a much improved New Delhi outfit last week but ultimately found themselves with the W and the 8th highest score of the week. Nothing too special, but a win; an almost eerily similar approach to the start of last year. Does that mean I'm implying the Suns are vulnerable early in this season? I think that maybe the case! I'm challenging the Suns this week to post 150+ or else I'll be on their case until they do! With that said, I'll again play the probabilities and back the Suns to get it done.

Phwoah, you look at this game and you just feel heartbreak and deflation don't you? In the blue corner, you have the lowest scoring team from last week in the Cairo Sands; crippled by the absence of star midfielder Dayne Beams and every indication that the admin will be dishing out the same treatment as he did to them last year in the previews, and in the red corner, you have the unluckiest team of 2012-2014, shaking off that title with an outstanding 2015 season to then open 2016 with a 3 SC point loss (with the 5th highest score of the round) when the admin first told them they won. Oomph, you feel that one right in the chest. In a hurry to shake of depressing preview, I'll say "chin up lads" and back the Reindeers to win.

The Saints didn't exactly set the world on fire last week with the 13th highest score of the week, but they did enough to win and that's all they really want. I could say the same thing about the 16th highest scoring team of the week in Cape Town, whom also did enough to get the win last week. To the pleasure of PNL I'm sure, these two teams currently sit in the top 6 with every intention to keep that winning feeling fresh. The Saints will welcome a rested Aaron Vandenberg (against a depleted Essendon outfit), a hopefully better performance from their captain and maybe a wake up call for a couple of its under-performers to give it a sense of confidence at at least cracking the 140 mark. The Cobras, again seeming to be well serviced by the Durban Pirates this year, will perhaps look to make a few changes to its winning formula in order to post a much higher score, which this admin feels like it definitely needs. I will back a rampaging Vandenberg to get the Saints over the line.

The Royals will sadly cross-off it's annual pencilled win against Dublin this week as it looks to recover in preparation for Toronto. London scored the 4th lowest score of the week last week; such is a symptom of a freshly adopted youth policy. However, the Royals might have a couple of quick-boosts to its line up having two emergencies score centuries last week; both capable of coming in at the expense of two sub-40 scoreres if it so chooses, so it's not all bad for the Royals at all. Meanwhile for Toronto, there have been much worse opening season scores than it's second lowest score of the week in previous years, and IMO, will not fall behind the pack as much as the other bottom teams in previous years. I fully expect the Wolves to grab a win here and there this year, and if last week was anything to go by, they have themselves an opportunity to achieve that this week against a fellow team still trying to gel together. But, will go with the HGA this week in the Royals I think.

Moscow would be pretty chuffed with last week's 7th highest score of the round, given that expectations were low after the season-long suspensions of Hooker, Heppell and Monfries. The Spetsnaz will always be likely to be well led with star power in its Leadership group and its lesser players in its best XV are at worst promising long-term players. Really, there is no reason to suggest Moscow won't challenge again this year, especially when you consider Jaeger O'Meara, Dominic Sheed & Lynden Dunn can all come back in and score well when fit. Seoul meanwhile remain a Jack-In-The-Box kind of team... you never know when they're going to come out and scare the shower out of the team winding them up. Unfortunately, during that winding up, they struggle to post 130+ scores and even that shakes my head with disbelief with captain Danger at the helm. I'll again play the probabilities and back Moscow in the win this match... but I'm always intrigued about Seoul.

Very interesting match this one! Pacific would be disappointed about letting the chance of revenge slip last week against Moscow, scoring a slightly below par score of 130 as the absence of Hurley and Howlett take affect. New Delhi on the other hand, delivered on its promise of improvement (even though it lost) with a score (just 3 SC points higher than Pacific) that would have beaten all bar 2 of its 2015 scores. The Tigers had 11 new representatives take the field last week where the phrase "New Look Team" has rarely been more appropriate. However, the loss of Steele Sidebottom for the next two weeks is going to hurt their chances against the more experienced Pacific, whose forward line is sure to produce after all abnormally underperformed at the same time last week. Either team can certainly win! But I think the HGA makes me lean towards Pacific for this one.

I didn't think I'd say it this time last week, but this game has to be my MATCH OF THE ROUND! A Luke Parker led Samurai absolutely destroyed the more fancied Berlin last week in a huge statement that to me read "We're tired of going under the radar, we're gonna play finals and flower you purple you cocky little shower". Tokyo just fell short of the highest score of the week with a score that would have beaten ALL of its 2015 scores. Meanwhile, Rio are recovering from last week's eventual match of the round that hadn't their coach pulled the admin up on his lack of excel skills, they would have gone into this match stills searching for their first win. The Jaguars pulled off a remarkable win of just 3 SC points, led by no other than captain GAJ that would have had the readers of "Jag Mag" experiencing unrivalled joy. Really, the match up of Luke Parker v GAJ was enough cause for excitement for this clash of the 2nd & 4th highest scoring teams from last week. So who do I tip? Despite how impressed I was with Tokyo, I can't help but feel that that was the height of their ceiling and that they might not do it 2 weeks in a row, whereas the Jaguars had Mackie, Boak, Sam Jacobs & Mitch Robinson all score below 70. I'll back the Jaguars, so long as they don't give Tokyo any "extra motivation".

[meow meow]

The other Aaron might make an appearance this week too.

[Holz]

I could lose. This isnt crooke park which im almost invincible.

[meow meow]

Christchurch Saints Round 2 team

B: Matthew Boyd, Sam Gilbert, Nathan Wilson, Jordan Roughead
M: Sam Mitchell, Bryce Gibbs, Hamish Hartlett, Ryan Griffen (VC)
R: Aaron Sandilands (C)
F: Jake Stringer, Luke Breust, Toby McLean, Leigh Montagna
U: Koby Stevens, Aaron Vandenberg

E: Jeff Garlett, Ryan Lester, Ben Reid

Rested: Ben Reid

[Ricochet]

No Sidey no worries! Jake Lloyd is pumping out 120s in the 2s

And we have plenty of other captain options this week... Stef Martin doesnt have to compete against the beast Nic Nat, its only some spud who i can't remember the name of. He should go 150+

Conigs comes back in. Howe should too hopefully

NDT will cruise in this one

[Vinny]

Dillos:

D: E.Wood, Z.Tuohy, S.Biggs, S.Atley.
M: S.Pendlebury (C), A.Swallow, I.Smith (VC), R.Douglas.
R: T.Hickey.
F: J.Elliot, J.Crisp, S.Edwards, J.Schulz.
U: E.Curnow, J.Crisp.
E: M.Adams, T.Mzungu, L.Thomas.

Trying to get this up early to be safe. iZander or myself will fix this up when teams are released.

[Toga]

BEIJING THUNDER:
D: H.Taylor, H.Lumumba, J.Aish, D.Howe
M: C.Ward (C), O.Wines, L.Neale (VC), B.Ellis
R: B.Grundy
F: D.Zorko, A.Christensen, K.Lambert, B.Kennedy
I/C: J.Caddy, M.Jones

Emg: J.Polec (m),  S.Mayes (d), J.Jenkins (f)

OUT: S.Mayes (omitted), J.Polec (omitted), J.Jenkins (omitted), L.Brown (omitted), M.Talia (foot)
IN: J.Aish, D.Howe, D.Zorko, B.Grundy, H.Lumumba

[Toga]

I could lose. This isnt crooke park which im almost invincible.

Worried? >:D

[Adamant]

Toronto Wolves

D: J. Pittard, M. Paparone, S. Wright, J. Webster
M: J. Macrae (C), J. Ziebell (VC), B. Ah Chee, R. Crowley
R: M. Kreuzer
F: T. Walker, J. De Goey, J. Watts, M. Pavlich
U: A. Brayshaw, S. Kerridge

E: M. Firrito, A. Phillips, J. Short

Rest: D. Astbury

[Boomz]

Tokyo Samurai
D: Garrick Ibbotson, Jason Johannissen, Martin Gleeson, Ricky Henderson
M: Anthony Miles, Luke Parker(C), Jack Redden, Dale Thomas
R: Zac Smith
F: Jamie Cripps, Luke Dahlhaus (VC), Jarryd Blair, Harry Cunningham
U: Scott Lycett, Connor Menadue
E: Sam Lloyd, Adam Kennedy, Anthony Mcdonald-Tipungwuti

Happy to cop the "fluke/peaked too early tag" but think there is still room for improvement with Redden gaining match fitness & Thomas, Henderson & possibly Grimes to come into the side. Gleeson & Cunningham get another chance but can't afford another low score.

[Nige]

Wow, I'm nothing but nice to you Purps.  :P

[RaisyDaisy]

New York Revolution

D: Tom McDonald, Bachar Houli, Josh Gibson, Shannon Hurn
M: David Mundy (VC), Jordan Lewis, Mitch Duncan (C), Stephen Hill
R: Kurt Tippett
F: Josh J Kennedy, Jarrad Waite, Isaac Heeney, Alex Sexton
I: Liam Picken, Matt Rosa

E: Andrew Walker, Scott D Thompson, Ben Sinclair

[Jukes]

D: S. Docherty, P. Seedsman, S. May, N. Vlastuin
M: R. Gray (cc), D. Armitage, L. Greenwood, R. Bastinac
R: N. Naitanui (cc)
F: J. Hogan, J. Daniher, D. Moore, T. Bell
U: C. Pearce, J. Hombsch

Emg: T. Vickery, J. Frawley, W. Milera

[Holz]

Schoenmakers is dropped. I dont care who for he is just out. Ill pplay a donut if i have too

[RaisyDaisy]

Schoenmakers is dropped. I dont care who for he is just out. Ill pplay a donut if i have too

LOL you were pumping him up so much after his finals series last year and now this? LOL