Post by The Chairman on Oct 26, 2020 21:59:26 GMT
The story so far and what is left to be told?
RLMTV looks back at the international campaign so far and looks to the future with what Is to unfold and Easybet updating their odds for the World Tour
Format
We look at the format first and foremost and the question of the scenarios international game as a whole as let’s not forget it’s been 10 years since any internationals
Without counting your chickens too early it has to be said the International scene has been spiced into life like never before. Every team on the same level and ultimately the onus is on each manager to craft their team and that has worked a treat, some maybe making better decisions than others, the fear was with made up names and no transfers it would quickly become stale for people that actually looks to have gone the other way with managers actually being creative with their teams and embracing the player naming process, it has a feeling managers are proud of their creations which is something the game has not done since we had academy’s. There is no hiding a sense of realism is lost in this format and I do think for a few that is hard to deal with as the game has had much more of that in the past obviously an incident from the not too distant past has forced that hand somewhat and you sometimes have just got to accept things and make the best of situations and I fully believe we have done that and from that the International scene is thriving like never before and that is no understatement
The Nations
Some different names have sprung up Turkey, Brazil, Norway to name a few but how are they all getting on
USA: A rekindled management partnership with Ulrich and John, 2 HOF members and so much past success between them, apart from a 7s win nothing massive has been won by either in the recent past but this International campaign has seen them dominate in a format designed to be where no one should be able to, it really is intetesting to see them having only lost 1 game and that puts them firmly in the driving seat and undoubted Favorites to stay there, especially with them currently having a good bill of health and a key stat that they have played their designated away game and still have the designated home game to come.
England; Were top just a week ago so lets not write off the English at this stage, they are 2nd Favourites, Andy and Wicki2000 have started to kindle a great Management team and they have worked well together, if they keep that up they will no doubt be looking for World Tour glory, for that to pass a certain tie on the horizon will be sticking out for them, indeed the USA game, Andy is one of the games most successful Managers. Can he add to that success with the World Tour?.
Cook Islands Have they been the shock package? For some yes and they a major market movers as they were expected to be just on the cusp of World Cup Qualification not battling at the top, their start has been very good and they have shocked a few, now the hard work beings for them they went under he radar a little and now they are considered major contenders and if a little leaway went their way early doors then no way will they have it now a top 4/5 finish is now predicted and that may be a happy ending for them? You can still see them push hard to still trouble USA at the top, one thing that goes massively in their favor is they have the second best points difference
Brazil Boosts have aided the Brazilian effort so far which has seemingly been part of their plan, those boosts have leveled up somewhat in line with most other sides now, but looking at their place in the league it does seem that Ians different strategy has been a good one so far, Rotation wise they have done well ticking off those requirements and they have had a fair few injuries to contend with. Round 7 actually will define their season a game V USA. A win and they are well in the chase for the World Tour they will be just a point off with 4 games left, a loss will see them 5 points off, that is a 4 point for them, we will see their true intentions foresure a push for the the WT or happy to to place themselves into the World Cup for a full assault on that that?
PNG A troublesome time for them Managerial changes including a game without one, somehow after a a 3 game stretch with no win, a massive boost over Turkey have put a massive twist into their favor that sees them as high as fith, a home game next and a win their will see them into the mix massively, their starting 13 is still a scary prospect and in a all fairness they have not been in top gear yet to see the benefit of that, still major injuries is still a risk if that happens it will derail them
Spain An in different start, a good couple of wins to begin with then a slump, it looks like a side that cannot be underestimated though and Chris is a good Manager, they are an uncertainty in many peoples eyes, their season will probably take a real shape over the next few weeks, a couple of wins and they will be looking at the possibility of can they win the WT or crucially a couple of defeats will see them just trying to make the 8
Turkey A very similar story to Spain the next few weeks are crucial, they have one eye catching stat to their season so far and they are the only team to beat the USA who sit top, and they didn't just win they were comfortable winners in that match that proves in any given game they are a tough team and maybe come world cup time that will serve them well. Inconsistency is the problem and that needs fixing to ensure they make it to the World Cup
Australia A work in progress they are, that is the best way of describing them and that has seen a steady improvement and that has them on the fringes of the top 8 now, a few games they came short in maybe just maybe with more media they could of won, last week the beat England in their home game and it was one with the home advantage that just tipped it their way, no more of them now so they need to make their own momentum and build form, if they do that you would expect them be be looking ahead and not behind
Tonga One of the few sides that have gone big on a very balanced squad and they expected to build their way into the season preying on sides hit with injuries the aim, that has gone quite well so far a few memorable wins and that has come with games the knew they would struggle with, making the World Cup is the main aim and right now they hold that final spot, you would feel if they can replicate their form so far that would be enough
Norway They decided to buck the trend in terms of building their squad they are the only side who did the 6 point challenge not to complete it yet and if they do complete it they will see an extra 9 points for their players, they need it as injuries have hit them hard and doubled with no staff their squad just hasn't been able to cope it is that simple, hopes of a top 4 finish look short right now but if they can make the 8 they will be a danger in the knockout format if they have enough bodies available, don't discount them but if their luck does not change soon then it could be curtains
New Zealand Just like Tonga for them just 1 win less, the positive is they best games have been their most recent ones and that shows their building strategy is now starting to work, one thing is evident is that their Manager has had to dig deep, domestically he had things go very well and it has been a different take on things so for for their Manager, he has dug in though especially during the bad results, listen they are still outside the 8 and they have to overtake some good teams, so making them favorites to do it is not the script but is the champion spirit going to be the thing to defy the odds?
France By no way can you blame their current Manager Nath for their position. They have had bad luck with previous managers and that leaves them in this position. Is it hopeless. Well being able win the Tour is practically impossible. That is not what its about. Making he 8 is still possible, 4 wins might just get it, winning all 5 should do it you feel, nath has a task on and it Must start this week, one thing they have is an arsenal of boosts, using them in the right way, and building form will be their path they will need to take and probably needing a few results to go their way too. If they do get a few early results one thing is they will make teams around them shake a little.
Keeping it up
That now is the key, keeping it going it has taken until round 6 to have committed managers in place at all 12 nations, it is the aim that we make it all the way with those in place and hopefully more to join the the 3 assistants we have already.
Latest Odds from EasyBet to win the World Tour
USA 2/1
England 5/1
PNG 7/1
Cook Islands & Brazil 10/1
Turkey & Spain 15/1
Australia & Tonga 16/1
Norway 33/1
New Zealand 66/1
France 200/1
Note: Your views on this is a Round 7 Bonus Media subject
RLMTV looks back at the international campaign so far and looks to the future with what Is to unfold and Easybet updating their odds for the World Tour
Format
We look at the format first and foremost and the question of the scenarios international game as a whole as let’s not forget it’s been 10 years since any internationals
Without counting your chickens too early it has to be said the International scene has been spiced into life like never before. Every team on the same level and ultimately the onus is on each manager to craft their team and that has worked a treat, some maybe making better decisions than others, the fear was with made up names and no transfers it would quickly become stale for people that actually looks to have gone the other way with managers actually being creative with their teams and embracing the player naming process, it has a feeling managers are proud of their creations which is something the game has not done since we had academy’s. There is no hiding a sense of realism is lost in this format and I do think for a few that is hard to deal with as the game has had much more of that in the past obviously an incident from the not too distant past has forced that hand somewhat and you sometimes have just got to accept things and make the best of situations and I fully believe we have done that and from that the International scene is thriving like never before and that is no understatement
The Nations
Some different names have sprung up Turkey, Brazil, Norway to name a few but how are they all getting on
USA: A rekindled management partnership with Ulrich and John, 2 HOF members and so much past success between them, apart from a 7s win nothing massive has been won by either in the recent past but this International campaign has seen them dominate in a format designed to be where no one should be able to, it really is intetesting to see them having only lost 1 game and that puts them firmly in the driving seat and undoubted Favorites to stay there, especially with them currently having a good bill of health and a key stat that they have played their designated away game and still have the designated home game to come.
England; Were top just a week ago so lets not write off the English at this stage, they are 2nd Favourites, Andy and Wicki2000 have started to kindle a great Management team and they have worked well together, if they keep that up they will no doubt be looking for World Tour glory, for that to pass a certain tie on the horizon will be sticking out for them, indeed the USA game, Andy is one of the games most successful Managers. Can he add to that success with the World Tour?.
Cook Islands Have they been the shock package? For some yes and they a major market movers as they were expected to be just on the cusp of World Cup Qualification not battling at the top, their start has been very good and they have shocked a few, now the hard work beings for them they went under he radar a little and now they are considered major contenders and if a little leaway went their way early doors then no way will they have it now a top 4/5 finish is now predicted and that may be a happy ending for them? You can still see them push hard to still trouble USA at the top, one thing that goes massively in their favor is they have the second best points difference
Brazil Boosts have aided the Brazilian effort so far which has seemingly been part of their plan, those boosts have leveled up somewhat in line with most other sides now, but looking at their place in the league it does seem that Ians different strategy has been a good one so far, Rotation wise they have done well ticking off those requirements and they have had a fair few injuries to contend with. Round 7 actually will define their season a game V USA. A win and they are well in the chase for the World Tour they will be just a point off with 4 games left, a loss will see them 5 points off, that is a 4 point for them, we will see their true intentions foresure a push for the the WT or happy to to place themselves into the World Cup for a full assault on that that?
PNG A troublesome time for them Managerial changes including a game without one, somehow after a a 3 game stretch with no win, a massive boost over Turkey have put a massive twist into their favor that sees them as high as fith, a home game next and a win their will see them into the mix massively, their starting 13 is still a scary prospect and in a all fairness they have not been in top gear yet to see the benefit of that, still major injuries is still a risk if that happens it will derail them
Spain An in different start, a good couple of wins to begin with then a slump, it looks like a side that cannot be underestimated though and Chris is a good Manager, they are an uncertainty in many peoples eyes, their season will probably take a real shape over the next few weeks, a couple of wins and they will be looking at the possibility of can they win the WT or crucially a couple of defeats will see them just trying to make the 8
Turkey A very similar story to Spain the next few weeks are crucial, they have one eye catching stat to their season so far and they are the only team to beat the USA who sit top, and they didn't just win they were comfortable winners in that match that proves in any given game they are a tough team and maybe come world cup time that will serve them well. Inconsistency is the problem and that needs fixing to ensure they make it to the World Cup
Australia A work in progress they are, that is the best way of describing them and that has seen a steady improvement and that has them on the fringes of the top 8 now, a few games they came short in maybe just maybe with more media they could of won, last week the beat England in their home game and it was one with the home advantage that just tipped it their way, no more of them now so they need to make their own momentum and build form, if they do that you would expect them be be looking ahead and not behind
Tonga One of the few sides that have gone big on a very balanced squad and they expected to build their way into the season preying on sides hit with injuries the aim, that has gone quite well so far a few memorable wins and that has come with games the knew they would struggle with, making the World Cup is the main aim and right now they hold that final spot, you would feel if they can replicate their form so far that would be enough
Norway They decided to buck the trend in terms of building their squad they are the only side who did the 6 point challenge not to complete it yet and if they do complete it they will see an extra 9 points for their players, they need it as injuries have hit them hard and doubled with no staff their squad just hasn't been able to cope it is that simple, hopes of a top 4 finish look short right now but if they can make the 8 they will be a danger in the knockout format if they have enough bodies available, don't discount them but if their luck does not change soon then it could be curtains
New Zealand Just like Tonga for them just 1 win less, the positive is they best games have been their most recent ones and that shows their building strategy is now starting to work, one thing is evident is that their Manager has had to dig deep, domestically he had things go very well and it has been a different take on things so for for their Manager, he has dug in though especially during the bad results, listen they are still outside the 8 and they have to overtake some good teams, so making them favorites to do it is not the script but is the champion spirit going to be the thing to defy the odds?
France By no way can you blame their current Manager Nath for their position. They have had bad luck with previous managers and that leaves them in this position. Is it hopeless. Well being able win the Tour is practically impossible. That is not what its about. Making he 8 is still possible, 4 wins might just get it, winning all 5 should do it you feel, nath has a task on and it Must start this week, one thing they have is an arsenal of boosts, using them in the right way, and building form will be their path they will need to take and probably needing a few results to go their way too. If they do get a few early results one thing is they will make teams around them shake a little.
Keeping it up
That now is the key, keeping it going it has taken until round 6 to have committed managers in place at all 12 nations, it is the aim that we make it all the way with those in place and hopefully more to join the the 3 assistants we have already.
Latest Odds from EasyBet to win the World Tour
USA 2/1
England 5/1
PNG 7/1
Cook Islands & Brazil 10/1
Turkey & Spain 15/1
Australia & Tonga 16/1
Norway 33/1
New Zealand 66/1
France 200/1
Note: Your views on this is a Round 7 Bonus Media subject