Fantasy Rugger - Round Six Preview
With all the speculation regarding who will get the chop from the Australian Conference under the new proposed Super Rugby format, Christopher Duffy takes a look at the stand out performers across the Aussie sides. Where they will be playing rugby next season and under what format is unknown, but their quality is undoubted. SANZAAR and the ARU may be keeping silent but we want to loudly announce that; Round Six is time to give the Aussies some love! You can sign up for the weekly league and get all the latest stats at Fantasy Rugger
FB – Reece Hodge – Rebels – $4.1m
Hodge significantly boosted his ratings last weekend in the Rebels loss to the Waratahs. In the first half, he and his side were in sensational form. Everything Hodge touched seemed to turn to gold for the Rebels. Sadly for the home fans they yet again couldn’t maintain it for 80 minutes but he has begun to show the form that earnt him a Wallabies jersey. With a mammoth boot his scores take a boost and has notched up 39.60 points this year. The Rebels will need a big game from him as they travel to take on the Highlanders.
C – Samu Kerevi – Reds – $4m
In a side that is struggling for form, Kerevi has been a shining light of physicality on attack and defence. With a pack in front of him not creating any momentum, it has fallen to the centre to create it himself for his side. After making his way through the rugby ranks in Queensland, he has been a mainstay in the Reds starting XV since his climb through the NRC. With a huge 67.70 points to his name, he is an inclusion worthy of any rugby side. Especially with the fact that he has made the second most carries in the competition (65) and beaten the most defenders (24).
FB – Israel Folau – Waratahs – $8m
Folau’s recent performances have been brought under scrutiny as he has failed to make the impact on the field that he has done in past years. Yet he tops the Waratahs’ rankings with 52.80 points for the season. Regardless of the quiet start he has made, Folau has the star quality that will ultimately shine through. Especially if the rest of his side can lift their own game and create space for him. As the Tah’s continue to improve, expect Folau’s own points to rise dramatically.
FH – Jono Lance – Western Force $4.8m
Lance has been back to his best with Force this year. As with the other Australian sides, however, his efforts have been undone by the lack of talent around him. With 41.80 points he edges his closest rival in the Force side, Chance Peni. A player who has benefitted from Lances attacking lines and willingness to take the ball forward before distributing. He has the best kicking average of any player to have attempted ten or more kicks. Landing ten out of eleven for the season.
And one for Round Seven as the Brumbies have the bye this week.
W – Henry Speight – Brumbies – $6m
The Fijian born flyer has been in fantastic form this year in a side that seems intent on winning games the old fashioned way, with a maul. Despite this Speight has shown his scintillating quality looking for work across the field and popping up on both wings. His strength and speed are incredible as his work rate which when combined as seen him rack up 52.50 points so far this season. Add him to your bench ready for when he returns to action after the bye.
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments