1
Gallagher Premiership Fantasy League Team of the Week: Round 5
Five rounds in and the newly renamed Premiership is fast becoming our new favourite Gallagher, after Noel went a bit grumpy and Liam just carried on generally being an arse. This weekend saw headlines aplenty, as Saracens and Exeter both continued their unbeaten starts to the season, with Sarries recording bonus point victories in every game so far. At the other end of the pile, Sale remain rooted to the foot of the table after a narrow loss to a middling Leicester Tigers side. Fortunately for the Sharks, fellow northerners Newcastle had a tough weekend, losing to Wasps after a late Lima Sopoaga penalty.
There were plenty of other stories from this weekend’s action, but here at Fantasy League HQ we’re under strict doctors’ orders to disregard club performance and focus solely on those delicious, nutritious individual numbers. Here’s the Gallagher Premiership Fantasy League Team of the Week for Round 5:
Fantasy League Team of the Week: Round 5
1.Titi Lamositele (Saracens)
2. Harry Thacker (Bristol)
3. Alex Waller (Northampton)
4. Ted Hill (Worcester)
5. Will Rowlands (Wasps)
6. Jake Polledri (Gloucester)
7. Mark Wilson (Newcastle)
8. Dave Ewers (Exeter)
9. Francois Hougaard (Worcester)
10. Danny Cipriani (Gloucester)
11. Jeff Williams (Bath)
12. Will Hurrell (Bristol)
13. Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
14. Nathan Earle (Harlequins)
15. Alex Goode (Saracens)
*Please note, player positions are determined by The Scout’s statistical analysis and thus may not be accurate
It won’t be a major surprise to see 3 members of the dominant Saracens in our starting XV, with Liam Williams also on the bench. Fellow table-toppers Exeter only contribute Dave Ewers to the starting line up, though Jack Yeandle does bag a substitute berth. Worcester couldn’t repeat last week’s feat of 6 players in the Team of the Week, but with Francois Hougaard and Ted Hill making the starting line-up Warriors fans should be pleased with their performance. The latter was one of our tips as a Bargain Buy this week alongside Jake Polledri, meaning that savvy purchasers have seen a great return on their investments and also that I get to act all smug for a bit for getting it right.
Polledri has now managed to sneak into the overall Team of the Tournament so far, alongside TotT mainstay Mark Wilson, who features yet again in the Team of the Week to boot. George Ford retains the overall fly half jersey, but misses out on the position this week to Danny Cipriani, whose performance for Gloucester this weekend puts him ahead of his (supposed) England rival Ford as well as All Black Lima Sopoaga who claims the bench position.
Northampton Saints had a reasonable week, with new co-captain Alex Waller claiming a starting prop position ahead of substitute John Afoa, whilst Teimana Harrison and Taqele Naiyaravoro also make the bench (yet another prediction come true – I’m the Nostradamus of rugby statistics).
ADVERTISEMENT
Player of the Week:
The aforementioned Liam Williams may keep his overall 15 jersey, but he’s facing close competition from fellow Saracen Alex Goode whose 32.7 points this weekend far outweighs anybody else. Will Hurrell’s 24.4 points in Bristol’s narrow loss represent the closest anybody came to overtaking Goode this weekend. With 1 try, 3 assists and 9 defenders beaten surely Goode has restated his claim to an England spot.
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“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.
25 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
5 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.
10 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments