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Gallagher Premiership Fantasy League Team of the Week: Round 3
The new season of the Gallagher Premiership has reached Round 3 and is starting to find its rhythm, settling into the groove like me after one Ribena too many. The usual suspects Exeter and Saracens top the table but Gloucester have made a strong start too, unbeaten after three rounds and playing some sublime rugby. At the southern end of the table, few will be surprised to see Worcester propping up the pile despite coming agonisingly close to beating Wasps in Round 1.
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On the individual level, Round 3 threw up a few surprises, also like me after one Ribena too many. The bulk of this week’s XV of the week is made up of the unsung heroes one perhaps might overlook when picking a Fantasy League team. In fact, this may be the most value-for-money team we’re likely to have all season, with smaller names producing big points. Without further adieu, here’s the rundown of the Team of the Week*:
- Ben Franks (Northampton)
- Cameron Neild (Sale)
- Ross Harrison (Sale)
- Elliott Stooke (Bath)
- Ed Slater (Gloucester)
- Jake Polledri (Gloucester)
- Ruan Ackermann (Gloucester)
- Zach Mercer (Bath)
- Jack Maunder (Exeter)
- George Ford (Leicester)
- Joe Cokanasiga (Bath)
- Juan de Jongh (Wasps)
- Henry Slade (Exeter)
- Charlie Sharples (Gloucester
- Liam Williams (Saracens)
*Please note, player positions are determined by The Scout’s statistical analysis and thus may not be accurate
Northampton finally have a representative on the board, as Ben Franks claims the Number 1 jersey (despite starting on the bench, and coming on as a second half replacement for tighthead Ehren Painter). This was largely due to the try the former All Black scored in Saints’ disappointing yet encouraging loss to Saracens. Primarily renowned as a scrum specialist, players such as Franks are a reminder of the need to “get you a man who can do both”, as I believe the youth are saying nowadays.
On the opposite side of the field on Saturday, and at the other end of the team sheet, Liam Williams’ performance not only bagged him the starting fullback birth for our Team of the Week, but also created some daylight between himself and Worcester’s Chris Pennell in the battle for the position in the Team of the Tournament. Teammate Alex Lewington has to settle for a bench spot however, just 0.1 points behind Charlie Sharples on the wing, though remains the incumbent in the overall team.
Not the highest scoring week by any stretch, the battle for Player of the Week came down to England team mates George Ford and Joe Cokanasiga, the latter just edging things with a haul of 25.4 versus 24.3. Ford still rules the roost overall though, with a total score of 66.1 setting him up as the MVP of the Gallagher Premiership with three rounds gone.
Top Tips:
By now, a few trends have started appearing, and you’ll want to use this newfound information to your advantage as you choose your transfers for the upcoming week. Locks rarely bring home the points to a great degree, though as the weather worsens and teams play a more tactical game you might want to invest in a lineout specialist to make the most of the position. On the other hand, wingers are consistently amongst the highest scoring, and with playing conditions still good (for Britain, that is), and with teams starting to settle into their new systems now is an ideal time to splash the virtual cash on a superstar or two in the back line. Northampton’s Taqele Naiyaravoro only made his debut this weekend, but considering he sat down big Billy Vunipola, he’d be as good a pick as any if you’re looking to take a punt.
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Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments