WXV Semi Finals - Pumas host Cairo, Brewers go to Moscow

[ossie85]

Senior Semi Finals
Sao Paulo Pumas v Cairo Sands, Estádio do Pumas
Moscow Spetsnaz v Berlin Brewers, Luzhniki Stadium

Reserves Semi Finals
Toronto Wolves v Cape Town Cobras, Rogers Centre
Mexico City Suns v Imperial Princes, Fireball Stadium

Continental Cup

Americas v Asia, Fireball Stadium
Africa/Oceania v Europe, Newlands Cricket Ground

(Choose your XV from the 14 WXV teams not playing in World finals, 18 AFL teams)

Each continent:

Americas
Teams: Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Toronto, New York
Head Coach: Maca24
Assistant Coaches: Nails, roo boys!, Sid/pyronerd

Europe
Teams: Dublin, London, PNL
Head Coach: Ringo
Assistant Coaches: Holzman, Hellopplz

Africa/Oceania
Teams: Cape Town, Pacific, Wellington
Head Coach: My Chumps
Assistant Coach: Jayman/tbagrocks, pothead

Asia
Teams: Seoul, Tokyo, New Delhi, Beijing
Head Coach: Boomz/kilbuff1985
Assistant Coaches: JBs-Hawks/KoopKicka, elephants, Toga/Master Q

Sao Paulo v Cairo

Ladder: 4 v 5
Win-Loss: 12-6 v 13-5
Average: 150 v 140
High: 173 v 159
Low: 131 v 116
H2H: 1 v 1

History
2013 R12: Pumas 131 lost to Sands 140
2012 R5: Sands 124 lost to Pumas 158

Now this is a very interesting match! Although the Pumas have averaged 10 points per game over the season, over the last 7 weeks the Sands have averaged 145 to the Pumas 140! Cairo are on a 9 match winning streak, have now actually won more games this year than Sao Paulo, and are looking for a historic preliminary final. The Pumas losing run started with a loss to the Sands in Round 12, and have not beaten a team outside the bottom 4 since Round 10 (!!!) and have not defeated a team in the top 8 since Round 5 (!!!!!!!!!!!).


Moscow v Berlin

Ladder: 3 v 7
Win-Loss: 13-5 v 11-7
Average: 141 v 135
High: 162 v 154
Low: 124 v 110
H2H: 2 v 0

History
2013 R12: Spetsnaz 155 defeated Brewers 135
2012 R5: Brewers 115 lost to Spetsnaz 117

Moscow have been impressive this year, being the only team so far to have defeated Mexico City, and had a 9 match winning streak during the year. Recent form has been patchy though, a lack of ruck options is hurting them. Berlin are the fairytale story of the competition, having finished 16th last year, they new find themselves in the final 6 on the back of a 5 match winning streak (including victories over Toronto and Cape Town). The Brewers have never defeated Moscow before, but they've had a lot of firsts already. The Spetsnaz are likely to have too much class.

[Jukes]

Moscow Spetsnaz

D: H. Shaw, C. Dixon, R. Murphy, K. Hardingham
M: R. Griffen (c), N. Fyfe (vc), A. Treloar, C. Ward
R: S. Tuck (OOP)
F: D. Martin, A. Monfries, M. Walters, L. Adams
U: J. Thomas, J. Darling

Emg: S. Colquhoun, T. Vickery, S. May

[roo boys!]

Oss, I was planning on naming a best XV this week along the lines of:

Def: Mark Whiley, Tom Jonas, Taylor Hine, Michael Jamison
Mid: Andrew Embley, Tom Bell, David Rodan (C), Jesse Crichton
Ruc: Tom Hickey
Fwd: Ash McGrath, Aaron Edwards, Jesse White, Jacob Gillbee
Int: Matt Shaw, Aaron Joseph

The rest should be eligible for the reserves this week.

:P

[Maca24]

My team for my Semi Final World Cup clash.

Mexico City Suns:

Def: B.Goddard (C), C.Enright, J.Adcock, D.Merrett.
Mids: S.Sidebottom (VC), B.Ebert, S.Thompson, B.Vince.
Rucks: I.Maric.
Frwds: N.Riewoldt, J.Lewis, J.Bartel, S.Crameri.
Bench: A.Sandilands, L.Hodge.
Emg: J.Waite, B.Lake, M.Blicavs.

Hodge, Crameri and Merrett in.
Lecras, Waite and Lake out.

[CrowsFan]

2 wins from last 7 matches, and 1 win from 3 finals appearances are not good stats for the Pumas heading into this semi against a team that has won their last 9!!

[My Chumps]

Backing Moscow in over the Brewers but I think the Pumas vs Cairo could be incredibly close! Could the Puma's fall in straight sets?

[Nige]

Backing Moscow in over the Brewers but I think the Pumas vs Cairo could be incredibly close! Could the Puma's fall in straight sets?

May I ask why you put an apostrophe in Pumas the second time?

[Purple 77]

If I'm honest, not feeling a great deal of confidence this week, but hey, stranger things have happened  :P

Just stoked I made the finals in the first place!

[My Chumps]

Backing Moscow in over the Brewers but I think the Pumas vs Cairo could be incredibly close! Could the Puma's fall in straight sets?

May I ask why you put an apostrophe in Pumas the second time?

Ergh, really Nigel?  :P

[Nige]

Backing Moscow in over the Brewers but I think the Pumas vs Cairo could be incredibly close! Could the Puma's fall in straight sets?

May I ask why you put an apostrophe in Pumas the second time?

Ergh, really Nigel?  :P

Bored at Uni, no hate pls.  :(

[ossie85]

Just a stat that will scare the crap out of CrowsFan

Sao Paulo have not beaten a side outside the bottom 4 since Round 10!

Sao Paulo have not beaten a top 8 side since Round 5!

[Maca24]

That stat is actually insane!!!  :o :o :o

[Nige]

Do the Pumas wanna forfeit?  :P

[CrowsFan]

Oh my god! :o

[Maca24]

America's

B: T.McKenzie, SD.Thompson, B.Goddard, C.Enright.
M: S.Pendlebury (C), D.Swan (VC), S.Sidebottom, M.Barlow.
R: D.Cox.
F: S.Johnson, B.Harvey, N.Riewoldt, J.Bartel.
Int: D.Prestia, T.Liberatore.
Emer: D.Petrie, D.Heppell, I.Maric.