WXV Round 7: Top of the Table Clash

[ossie85]

Round 7      AFL Round 7   
         
Buenos Aires Armadillos   v   Mexico City Suns   Estadio de River   Americas Premiership Match
New York Revolution   v   Berlin Brewers   MetLife Stadium, New Jersey   
Beijing Thunder   v   Moscow Spetsnaz   Beijing Olympic Park   EurAsian Premiership Match
PNL Reindeers   v   Sao Paulo Pumas   Stade de Gerland   
Dublin Destroyers   v   Toronto Wolves   Crooke Park   
New Delhi Tigers   v   London Royals   Wipro Stadium   EurAsian Premiership Match
Tokyo Samurai   v   Cape Town Cobras   Tokyo Olympic Stadium   
Cairo Sands   v   Pacific Islanders   Borg El Arab Stadium   Africonia Premiership Match
Seoul Magpies   v   Wellington Warriors   Seoul World Cup Stadium   

Buenos Aires v Mexico City shapes up as a huge clash, with the Armadillos taking on their 5th 2013 top 8 team in 7 rounds - and yet still remaining undefeated. Mexico City have looked to be on a mission after last year's Grand Final loss. It may come down to Home Ground Advantage! Who do you guys tip?

Berlin head to New York desperate to break a 4 match losing streak (despite playing pretty solidly at times). They face a New York who are hugely up and down, so this is most definitely a danger game for the Brewers. Can New York stay in the 8? Can Berlin kick start its season?

Moscow would be happy with its form last week taking out the Peace Cup, but that happiness will be short lived if they head to Beijing and lose. The Thunder have definitely improved this year, but have been down the last couple of weeks and have slumped to 16th on the ladder.

Sao Paulo's have won the last 4 matches to zoom up to 3rd on the ladder, while PNL look a genuine team with a very strong season so far. The Pumas have to be wary of the Reindeers at home, as they still have positional players. A Top 4 spot on the line here.

Dublin have let 2 matches slip this year (Tokyo, London) that they were favourites to win. Now they face a revitalised Toronto in Ireland - this could be one of the matches of the week, as Toronto look for win number 3 in a row.

New Delhi have been plucky, managing 3 wins this year! Can they get win #4 against London? The Royals would be chuffed winning the British Isles Cup for the 3rd time last week, and a win here and they are in contention again.

Tokyo v Cape Town. Who can call this one? Both teams have been up and down like a yo-yo. Tokyo should win on form, but I don't know! This game is more important for Cape Town, who would struggle to come back from 2-5.

Cairo's first 3 week average was 158, next 3 week average 126.3 - looks like the Mumford argument holds sway. A loss to Pacific would be disastrous, as Cairo need to keep the top 8 in touch. Pacific have managed 3 wins this year, which is impressive. Will they win a 4th?

Two of the younger sides in the competition face each other, with Wellington heading to Seoul. Wellington coming off a victory, while Seoul need a win.

[kilbluff1985]

Tokyo will hopefully look like

D: Ibbotson, Suckling, Broughton, Carlisle
M: Jack, Shuey, Scooter, Gleeson
R: West
F: Dahlhaus, Parker, Motlop, Merrett
I/C: S Mitchell, Rivers

[Nige]

I was pretty sure we could beat Wellington and look what happened.

We're gonna lose to Pacific.

[Toga]

Would love to take one off of Moscow :P Jukes, pls continue to have captain troubles ;)

[Jukes]

Spetsnaz
D: H. Shaw, L. Dunn, J. Frawley, N. Vlastuin
M: R. Griffen, J. O'Meara (cc), D. Heppell (cc), C. Ward
R: N. Naitanui
F: D. Martin, A. Monfries, J. Jenkins, S. May
U: J. Thomas, J. Hombsch

Emg: S. Docherty, D. Fletcher, T. Vickery

Sub rule active
RESTING Zac Clarke

[Master Q]

Would love to take one off of Moscow :P Jukes, pls continue to have captain troubles ;)

I really like our chances. HGA and Jones coming back from his massive game in the reserves (resting) will help up big time.

[Justin Bieber]

I was pretty sure we could beat Wellington and look what happened.

We're gonna lose to Pacific.

#NoMummyNoCairo

I swear it's become a thing for real now :-X.

[Nige]

I was pretty sure we could beat Wellington and look what happened.

We're gonna lose to Pacific.

#NoMummyNoCairo

I swear it's become a thing for real now :-X.

Quiet you... it's all purely coincidence.  :(

[Nails]

Apparently (according to another XVs coach who has him) Barlow is a chance to come back this week.

It's going to be tough to decide on a team this week. In a MUST win match do we risk selecting a potential orange vest candidate who if he does get subbed will likely get subbed in the 3rd or 4th quarter therefore nullifying the sub rule?

Do we rest Barlow and conserve him for next week?

Who do we select? Cross or Kelly? Both who are averaging very similar. With SD Thompson back who do we select as 4th defender?

The more consistent 70ish scoring players in the form of Astbury/Newman or the 90s one week 50s the next Easton Wood?

Or do we Attack! With Hale and Petrie being F4/F5 and both knocking out 90+ last week should we back them in and risk lesser forward coverage?

This big match up is huge. It'll be a huge contributor to our chances to finish top 2 and their chances as well.

Dillos are realistic about their chances and realise they still have big challenges ahead that we could easily lose to, including but not limited to the Pumas and Dublin.

However if we want number 1 and to put ourselves in the best position possible to be able to absorb losses against other great teams we must win this one. Otherwise Mexico with a one game lead after this week might be unstoppable.

Time to think.

[Nige]

I can't wait for you to complain about making the wrong selections.  :P

[Jroo]

I can't wait for you to complain about making the wrong selections.  :P

[Ringo]

Naming a team, pending Team Announcements, as I may not get a chance to change after the announcements.

London Royals Team

Def: Heritier Lumumba ; Brent Reilly; Dane Rampe; Andrew Mackie
Mids: Danyle Pearce ; Daniel Hannebery; Brent Stanton; Jarrad McVeigh
Rucks:Tom Bellchambers
Fwds: Johnathan Brown ;Shane Edwards; Brandon Matera; Jason Winderlich
Int: Matthew Broadbent; David MacKay

Emergencies: Rory Laird, Chris Mayne. Joe Daniher

Co Captains: Stanton, McVeigh

Sub rule invoked.

In: Mackie, Bellchambers,
Out: Laird, Mayne

Slowly getting back to full strength and hoping to play a Ruck for first time this season.

[Purple 77]

Hmm. Just reading that Fyfe is in doubt with the flu......

Just a word of warning, if you see a screaming naked man running down the street, then, well, Fyfe has stayed in WA.

[Holz]

Backs:  A.Rance, G.Birchall, R.Murphy, L.Hansen, T.Mcdonald
Mids: J.Selwood (C), T.Rockliff, J.Watson (VC), T.Boak
Ruck: T.Goldstein
Fwds: C.Dixon, J.Watts , R.Gray
Interchange: N. Dal Santo, D. Mundy

S.Grigg, R.Schoenmakers, T.Murphy

sub rule


rance and dixon back but buddy goes out, using my last of the 5 defenders.

[Jroo]

Goddard and Hurn back!  :D
Arces to make his debut too.