I think managing trades is going to be the major factor in this years competition. Players have 20 trades for the group stages and 20 more for the quarter finals and beyond. The group stages are going to be especially tough. An average of roughly six trades between each round might seem like a lot but it's really not.
Firstly, there's the fact that quite a few teams have byes in some rounds and play two matches in others (though only one match is scored). I'm at a loss to know why Testrugby arranged things like this, since every other fantasy RWC game I've seen is much more straightforward, but that's the way it is so make sure you're aware and study the draw carefully.
The group stages are also bound to see that bane of a Testrugby managers existence - significant rotation of players. The All Blacks are not going to field the same starting XV against France as they do against Japan or Canada. With so much at stake you can bet on injuries being a factor too and I doubt many teams will make it past the group stages without losing a player or two.
Unfortunately, there's not a great deal Testrugby players can do to mitigate against this: make trades only when necessary, pick as smartly as you can (some players are more regular fixtures in their teams than others), always look ahead to the next round, and keep your fingers tightly crossed - luck is definitely going to be a factor.
No comments:
Post a Comment