WXV Round 8: Controversial Rests, Personal Bests and Ultimate Tests

[Purple 77]

Normal lockouts  :D

Round 8, AFL Round 8

Home Team	Away Team	Venue	Head-to-Head
Berlin Brewers	New Delhi Tigers	Berlin Olympic Stadium, EurAsia	4  v  0
Buenos Aires Armadillos	Pacific Islanders	Estadio de River, AAP Alliance	3  v  1
Mexico City Suns	Cape Town Cobras	Fireball Stadium, AAP Alliance	6  v  1
Moscow Spetsnaz	London Royals	Luzhniki Stadium, EurAsia, Europe	2  v  2
New York Revolution	Dublin Destroyers	MetLife Stadium	1  v  3
PNL Reindeers	Seoul Magpies	Stade de Gerland, EurAsia	1  v  3
Rio de Janeiro Jaguars	Christchurch Saints	Neutral, Adelaide Oval, AAP Alliance	1  v  0
Tokyo Samurai	Cairo Sands	Tokyo Olympic Stadium	2  v  2
Toronto Wolves	Beijing Thunder	Rogers Centre	2  v  2

A new perspective this week with a guest writer! Be sure to take a look at Worlds from the point of view of our Cairo co-coach Nige!

The Brewers aren't having the season they had hoped for, after trading hard in the offseason for a shot at premiership glory, yet find themselves 4-3 after 7 rounds and clinging on to 8th. Without superstar Nat Fyfe, the Brewers continue to challenge, but for how long one has to wonder. For their opponents in New Delhi, a trading frenzy finished up with a pretty amazing list overhaul and the results of that hard work have been clear to see at points this season even getting the highest score for the round three weeks ago! Their coaching partnership would be pleased that they're sitting 10th of points for but at 2-5, would like some concrete results. Berlin currently lead the head-to-head 4-0 but we'll back in the Tigers to pick up their first win against The Brewers.

Buenos Aires are flying the flag of being champions of the re-draft after getting past Toronto last week. They sit 3-4 and in 10th, which isn't something to be ashamed of as they can still easily make finals with plenty of rounds to come. Coaches Vinny and iZander would be happy with their progress, but they'll want to be 4-4 after this week to really push their claim. Pacific, on the other hand, found themselves with just two defenders on their entire list fit to take the field last week, but they still posted an impressive score and got past Cairo to sit 5-2. Did I also mention that Pacific haven't lost a game in the past 4 weeks? However, it should also be noted their past three opponents haven't cracked 130. Interesting as those facts may be, it's hard to see them dropping this one. Pacific will win.

This one is very interesting for the simple reason that these two teams meet for the 8th time! Yes, you read that right, this will be the 8th clash between Mexico City and Cape Town. Mexico haven't been their usual dominnant best so far this year but still sit 5-2 overall. They just lost Tom Rockliff though which is a big blow, but that might simply fire them up more which could be worrying for their opponents. Speaking of, Cape Town have only ever won a single game against Mexico City and with a young side just trying to get their names out there, season 2016 has been somewhat difficult. They could feasibly upset the Suns but you'd be a brave man to make that bet. Mexico City should be too good on the day.

Moscow host London in this one. Both relatively young sides at the moment, the head-to-head sits at 2-2, they are 17th and 15th for points scored and are 12 and 11th on the ladder respectively. What does that tell us? It's hard to split them. Unless you live under a rock, you've probably heard of the lack of key personnel that Moscow have and it's fair to say that it shows. London have had a few hiccups this season but have a reliable captain in Dan Hannebery who pretty much always leads from the front. Their season has been ever so slightly better than Moscow's and that trend looks set to continue. Currently, both sides are somewhat surprisingly 3-4 and one will be 4-4 after this week, who will it be? London have the slight edge for mine.

#Goldygate2k16 is what the World XVs fans are calling this one. New York host a Dublin outfit that controversially rested star ruckman Todd Goldstein who apparently had general soreness. New York haven't had much luck this season. Injuries and form haven't been too kind and yet they're still 4th for points scored and 5-2. The leadership debacle has been making news weekly and could be pivotal this week if they're a chance to knock off the ladder leaders. Dublin are a team that only know one way. Score big and show no mercy, you can expect that to continue. With a rested Goldstein ready to go into battle and coach Holz keen to stay at the top, it's hard to see New York toppling the Dublin juggernaut who haven't lost a game in a month. But you know what? Believe in the upset. New York is our pick!

So far, PNL have had a season that has to be something nightmares are made of. Injuries have been unforgiving and the Reindeers are feeling it. At 2-5, Hellopplz and DazBurg would definitely want their luck to turn around for the better sooner rather than later. Seoul are fighting their way up the ladder and sit outside the 8 on percentage alone which has to sting a little. However, this team has a superstar captain and a young team that is performing when is has to in order to pick up wins. They may be away this week, but they lead the rivalry 3-1 and given the way poor PNL are tracking to date, Seoul are likely to cruise on to another win.

The original re-draft generated another rivlary of sorts, Rio and Christchurch are two teams with solid squads and great coaches. This match is being played at a neutral venue in Adelaide, so neither sides gets any advantage (unless Rio feel the jetlag). Rio won't be happy after some are asking whether they peaked too early. Their scores have declined every since Round 3 and they sensationally bundled out of World Idol this past week. Their opponents in Christchurch sit not too far behind on 5-2 and get one back on Rio and level the head-to-head. The team boasts great deoth as coach meow meow is more than happy to tell you about. Could that possibly create selection dilemmas? Time will tell. Given the way the Jaguars' season has been heading over the past month, it's hard to believe they'll suddenly find form again. Christchurch to even it up.

Did somebody say MATCH OF THE ROUND?! Yes folks, I just did. Tokyo welcome Cairo in a clash that on paper, may not necessarily be the most exciting, but if you ask me (no bias whatsoever I swear), there's gotta be a point where it just clicks for either team. Tokyo sit 16th and have had the most points scored against them, while Cairo sit one spot below and have the next most scored against. With both sides sitting at 2-5, they're looking to turn their seasons around quickly. The Samurai have a young gun leader in Luke Parker who was slightly off last week but there's a good chance he'll bounce back this week which is exactly what coach Boomz would love. They same applies for the rest of the team. The Sands were buoyed by the return of captain Dayne Beams last week and will expect him to improve on last week's outing to help them over the line. With the teams in similar situations, it could very well come down to the home crowd willing Tokyo home.

Toronto are doing it tough. Winless after 7 rounds and fiending for a scalp that makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside. Coach Adamant hasn't had it easy as the new kid in town, but he's got a fairly decent young list to work with and those players could be poised to spring a surprise when we least expect it. Toronto's best score this season could have actually beaten the Thunder twice this year, that might just rattle Beijing coach Toga's cage a little. Even if it does, Toga is probably still on a high last week after the Beijing outfit managed to top score last week in Round 7, narrowly edging out Dublin (not for the first time this season either!). Beijing will want a win here because Berlin and Seoul could do the same and are breathing down their neck. That's exactly the kind of motivation they need, if any, to pick up back-to-back wins and maybe a handy percentage booster.

[Purple 77]

I know you thought the title was lame Nige, but I don't haha

In case you glazed over, this week's previews were written by Nige!

Loved reading through another perspective  :D although as I said to you before Nige, I definitely detect a bit of salt in my preview :P

Perhaps a guest writer could happen every once in a while in the future?  :o

[RaisyDaisy]

Perhaps a guest writer could happen every once in a while in the future?  :o

Sounds good :)

Will read through this soon on my way home

[Nige]

I know you thought the title was lame Nige, but I don't haha

Loved reading through another perspective  :D although as I said to you before Nige, I definitely detect a bit of salt in my preview :P

I'm still indifferent towards it tbh. :P

Like I said, not salty, just showing the same tough love you show Cairo in previews. ;)

[RaisyDaisy]

Great read Nige! Can see it takes a fair bit of effort to come up with all that, especially referencing previous stats

You're crazy tipping us though!

[Nige]

Great read Nige! Can see it takes a fair bit of effort to come up with all that, especially referencing previous stats

You're crazy tipping us though!

Hahaha cheers, I know :P

[Purple 77]

Great read Nige! Can see it takes a fair bit of effort to come up with all that, especially referencing previous stats

You're crazy tipping us though!

Hahaha cheers, I know :P

And the Tigers over the Brewers  ;)

#BringItNDT

#CrouchVCrouch

[Jay]

Legend, Nige!

[AaronKirk]

Great stuff Nige

Even with the injuries and some bad luck you have mentioned we are still the 4th highest scoring team in the competition so far this season.

Hopefully our boys can get it all together this week because we will need to.

[JBs-Hawks]

i like it, purp woulda tipped PNL!

[Holz]

Backs:  A.Rance, G.Birchall, H.Grundy, N.Jetta
Mids: J.Selwood (C), R.Sloane, A.Treloar, M.Murphy
Ruck: T.Goldstein (Rested) (VC)
Fwds: D.Martin, L.Franklin,J.Gunston, J.Riewoldt
Interchange: N. Dal Santo , J.Hiscox

Emg: C.Byrne, B.Dale, H.Schade

There will be no general soreness this week except for the New York players after im finished with them.

You have poked the bear.

[Nige]

There will be no general soreness this week except for the New York players after im finished with them.

You have poked the bear.

[Ricochet]

Great read Nige! Can see it takes a fair bit of effort to come up with all that, especially referencing previous stats

You're crazy tipping us though!

Hahaha cheers, I know :P

And the Tigers over the Brewers  ;)

#BringItNDT

#CrouchVCrouch

Haha i might have to name Matt just so he can prove once and for all he's better than his brother

[Purple 77]

There will be no general soreness this week except for the New York players after im finished with them.

You have poked the bear.

Phwoah, savage af  ;D

i like it, purp woulda tipped PNL!

What do you mean?! I've given you plenty of kudos... or... or did I dream that?  :-\ But really, if I had to choose a list to take over apart from the Brewers, I'd either choose yours or a fully unsuspended Moscow list :P

[Holz]

There will be no general soreness this week except for the New York players after im finished with them.

You have poked the bear.

Phwoah, savage af  ;D

Tom McDonald when playing in a good squad.



Tom McDonald when playing for New York