Worlds Day 2 Roundup
The action really heated up today, with the closer seeds in the pools playing each other and the every result carrying more weight. There’s loads to get through so let’s get straight to it.
Mixed Division
The big story here is a huge win for Argentina over Switzerland. That’s Argentina’s first win at worlds ever (I’m pretty sure) and creates a ton of intrigue for tomorrow’s games. With the top 3 going to power pools and the bottom two eliminated it leaves every team but the US uncertain over their progress.
Japan have their destiny in their own hands - beat Argentina and they are through. Lose to Argentina however and both those teams will be on 2 wins each. If Austria beat Switzerland they will also have two wins - creating a potential 3 way tie. Japan have a big win over Austria in the books already so they’re almost definitely through even in that scenario.
If Argentina lose to Japan and Switzerland beat Austria then Argentina, Japan and Austria will be tied on 1 win each in a 3 way tie for that last power pool spot.
Pool B
Australia and Italy was the headline act in this game and it was a really good game. Italy were super smooth on offence in the first half, playing a clean half with no turns on their O line. David Barzasi in prime form with 5 assists before going off injured in the second half. Australia’s offence looked a slightly shakier and were maybe fortunate to only be 1 break down at the half.
The second half saw Italy’s clinical offence stumble and some errors against the Australia zone gave the Australians relatively simple break chances which they converted well.
Once the Australian D line started to believe after the initial errors coming from the Italians there was a noticeable ramp up in pressure and the blocks started to come - rounded off by this block by Michaela Dunmall.
Despite the late errors from the Italian offence this was really about the performance of the Aussie O line, or the lack of break for the Italian D line depending on your perspective! Broken only once out of 12 offensive points, Yoshida and Reeve in particular looked so confident and a lot of credit needs to go their way.
With both Australia and Italy through to power pools, and results carrying that was effectively a power pool win for Australia. Tomorrow’s games see India take on Italy. Again, both teams are already assured of power pool spots so this game is essentially a power pool game. India matched the Italian scoreline vs Australia so this one should be must watch (it’s going to be steamed free on Youtube, midnight Irish time!).
Pool C
Tough day for GB with losses to Germany and Canada. They should beat Panama tomorrow to go through to power pools but they will carry those two losses with them. They’ll really have to find an extra gear in power pools to make the bracket, needing to beat 2 of the 3 teams coming over from Pool A. Since one is the US they’ll need to beat the other two, which I think will be well within their capabilities.
Pool D
Well. This was a spicy day of results.
Colombia ran France close, taking the game to universe point, but the game only getting to 10-9 is almost as big a story. I didn’t watch it but the reports are that there were a lot of calls and a lot of talking - so I’m not exactly incentivised to go watch it.
Colombia followed up that good result by losing to Chinese Taipei. They went down 5-1 to start the game, then battled back to 13-10 up before giving up a 4 point run to lose! Chinese Taipei - great at the start and end of games apparently. Chinese Taipei were a complete unknown entity to me so it’s cool to see a team emerge and beat a more established team like that.
Singapore continued to take care of business, joining France on 4-0 record and securing a power pool place. Those two will play each other tomorrow to decide who brings over the extra win to power pools.
This leaves one spot still open in power pools. Chinese Taipei command their own destiny, a win over Malaysia and they are through. However if they lose to Malaysia and Colombia beat Hong Kong then Chinese Taipei, Colombia and Malaysia will be tied on two wins each and it’ll come down to results between them.
Mixed Power Pools
Following the playing of those remaining games in the initial pools, power pools begin tomorrow. They’ll look something like this
Women’s
Pool A
All results went to seed here.
USA and Australia are through to upper power pools, they play tomorrow to decide who will take a win with them. The battle to not fall into the bottom two could be interesting. Japan play New Zealand and a win for Japan knocks New Zealand into that bottom two. China play France and win for China keeps them in the middle pool - unless New Zealand beat Japan and we end up with a 3 way tie. And if France and New Zealand win then New Zealand will go through with Japan. Simple…
Pool B
Another disappoint day for GB with a loss to Germany which was not a shock based on results from this season, followed by a universe loss to Singapore which was a little more surprising.
Canada ran Colombia pretty close - it’s been a strong performance in the pool from Canada who look set to be able to give the top two seeds a good run in the bracket.
Based on results so far, Canada should beat GB and go through to power pools. GB are out, they’ll finish in the bottom two no matter what they do.
Germany have a tough game against Colombia - still an important game for Colombia as they’re not assured of a power pool spot yet, a loss to Germany could drag them into a 3 way tie.
Singapore and Chinese Taipei have a straight knockout game essentially. Whoever wins will be 4th and through to middle pool, whoever loses is in the bottom two.
Power Pool Preview
We know the upper pool (1st and 2nd here go straight to semis) will be 4 of these 5. Results will carry from initial pools.
The middle pool will see the top two play a pre-quarter against the bottom of Pool C. A lot more uncertainty about who will be in this.
Power pools don’t actually start until day 4 - the women’s division are on 1 a day games now.
Open
Just one game for teams in Open today, rounding off their initial pools. Top two from the pools go to power pools but results don’t carry, so a number of games that probably didn’t carry that much weight today.
Pool A
The top two were already set here and the US opened up a big lead quickly against GB. I stopped watching and I can’t imagine GB tried to run their top players into the ground to chase this one. I don’t think the margin of the result is too meaningful here. US looks incredibly polished though - shouldn’t be a surprise with their quality but man, they are so so good.
Pool B
I was really looking forward to Japan Belgium but in the end, both teams were through to power pools and games with more long term weight took my attention away so I didn’t watch it. Sorry. France continued their impressive results, a different pool could have seen them progress further in this tournament but a tough draw.
Pool C
Again, the top two teams here were already through but I did watch a good bit of the game and both were really going for this win. A game in which D lines were on top and Germany probably should have taken it after breaking to go up late. They took the lead with that rare sight - Tullett getting handblocked on his famous high release flick.
The following point they were close to earning another break chance on this contested foul call.
Australia kept the disc there to bring it to universe and produce a great defensive set to win the disc and then a tense and chaotic bit of offence to win. Very entertaining finish to this one.
Pool D
Canada with a convincing win over Colombia - Canada looking really good and currently maybe the best of the chasing pack behind the US, though power pools will tell us more. Colombia still progress despite that loss so again, maybe took their foot off the gas and saved themselves for power pools so the margin here could be misleading.
Power Pool Preview
The open power pools are set - top two from each go to quarters while bottom two play a pre-quarter against the lower pool winners. Some great games to look forward to here. Based on results so far Japan-Australia looks the key game in pool A to decide automatic berth in quarters behind the US. Pool F looks wide open to me. Every game there could be close.