Rugby World Cup Fantasy Rugby – Opening Week Cheat Sheet
We are just days away from the most highly anticipated Rugby World Cup of all time.
It feels like Christmas.
Tens of thousands of fans have already signed up to try their hand at fantasy rugby and with France and New Zealand getting us underway on Friday night, your squad needs to be locked, loaded and signed up to as many leagues as possible before kickoff.
Below is your gameweek one cheat sheet to help you make a splash in the fantasy rugby world during the opening weekend of the World Cup.
Important News
Gameweek one will begin on Friday night when France host the All Blacks at the Stade de France and will finish after Wales and Fiji’s Pool C clash on Sunday, meaning eight games will span across the round.
Some tantalising fixtures are on display for the opening weekend with England playing Argentina and South Africa squaring off against Scotland.
However, more opportunity for fantasy owners may lie in the expectedly one-sided matchups such as Ireland against Romania and Italy versus Namibia, where a big points tally could be on the cards.
The structure of the first fantasy round means Uruguay, Tonga, Portugal and Samoa will not be a part of the opening gameweek and with unlimited transfers available, players from those countries should not be in your squads for the opening round.
Injury updates are another aspect to stay on top of with several stars already confirmed to miss the opening weekend and more with slight injury concerns.
Make sure to keep a close eye on the starting lineups as they filter through during the week before settling on players, you need all 15 players scoring points!
Props
In the fantasy world, props won’t be the prettiest girl at the dance but given their low price points, owners can be crafty in this department.
When it comes to the big boys up front there are three things that you should be looking for to get the best value for your credits; A prop who can play 60+ minutes, dominate at scrum time and be busy in the loose.
Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong and South Africa’s Steven Kitshoff certainly fit those categories and as a result, are the joint most expensive props at 6.5 credits each.
However, Angus Bell may be a better alternative for the opening week.
His elite ability in the loose paired with the fact that he’s played over 60 minutes in two of his last three international starts make him an attractive option.
Adding the fact that he’s one of the world’s best scrummagers and is only worth 4.5 credits makes him my best prop pick for the opening round.
Italy’s Danilo Fischetti (5.0 credits), Argentina’s Tomas Gallo (4.5 credits) and Japan’s Craig Miller (3.5 credits) are three other potential steals given their high level of involvement in games and their price points.
Hookers
The resurgence of hookers as tryscorers has filtered into the fantasy world with the threat of scoring from the back of the maul reflecting into hookers’ pricing, making this a position to target a premium player.
Malcolm Marx and Jamie George understandably sit as the most expensive hooking options based on their tryscoring ability, but at ten credits apiece, they may be hard to squeeze into a squad.
Dan Sheehan (9.0 credits) should be a player snapped up by many fantasy owners given he’s scored 14 tries in his last 20 starts for club and country and has a favourable matchup against Romania to start the tournament.
Julian Montoya (7.5 credits) is another top option and has already been selected by 20% of fantasy owners, the highest percentage of any hooker.
The Argentinian captain is a Swiss army knife with his turnover, ball-carrying and try-scoring abilities, making him a brilliant option for their opening game against an England side desperately searching for form.
If you’re looking to save credits for elsewhere at hooker, Fiji’s Tevita Ikanivere (6.0 credits) is certainly worth a look having scored three tries in his last two international starts and comes into the tournament off the back of an excellent Super Rugby season with the Fijian Drua.
Locks
The engine room is another area where fantasy managers can deploy their hidden gems.
At the top end of the scale, Eben Etzebeth will set you back nine credits with the likes of Tadhg Beirne, Sam Whitelock, James Ryan and Brodie Retallick worth 8.5 credits.
Alternatively, there are some eye-catchingly cheap options.
Wales’ 2022 Player of the Year Will Rowlands is one of those and at just 5.5 credits, he may be worth the risk given his tireless work rate and lineout stealing ability.
Italian duo Niccolo Cannone and Dino Lamb are also excellent value at just five credits apiece, especially given Italy’s opening matchup against Namibia.
Despite not featuring in the opening gameweek, Theo McFarland (6.0 credits), AKA the human highlight reel, will certainly be one to keep an eye on throughout the tournament given his ability to earn points in almost every aspect of the game.
Back Row
The loose forwards will be one of the more contentious departments during the opening round with a vast array of quality options at a cheaper price bracket, as the most expensive back rowers only cost 7.5 credits.
Ardie Savea (7.0 credits) is a dream for fantasy owners with his tackle-busting abilities and has been snapped up in 36.3% of teams already.
However, Fiji’s Levani Botia at six credits is one of the most intriguing options.
Being an inside centre who has converted to a flanker, Botia’s linebreak ability compares to no other back row option and with the development of his turnover threat at ruck time, he should be heavily considered as part of your team.
Japan’s Kizuki Himeno (5.0 credits) and Italy’s Lorenzo Cannone (5.0 credits) are another two players that could capitalise early on given their teams’ matchups against Chile and Namibia respectively.
If you’re looking to go even cheaper, Richard Hardwick (2.5 credits) is one to keep an eye on after impressing in Namibia’s two warm-up games off the back of a barnstorming season for the Melbourne Rebels.
Scrum-halves
Antoine Dupont is understandably the premium scrum-half at 11 credits.
The French captain will undoubtedly be near the top of the fantasy point-scoring charts throughout the tournament and will serve as an elite and stable option.
However, if you’re looking to spend big in other departments there are some hidden gems.
Excellent options are aplenty at a medium price range including Australia’s Tate McDermott (7.5 credits), Uruguay’s Santiago Arata (7.0 credits) and Wales’ Tomos Williams (6.0 credits). All three can break a game wide open in seconds on top of their brilliant support play.
Fly-halves
The four most expensive players in this year’s fantasy game are fly-halves.
Richie Mo’unga, Johnny Sexton, Finn Russell and Mathieu Jalibert are all worth a whopping 13 credits but each have their pitfalls in the opening round.
Mo’unga, Russell and Jalibert all face tough matchups in their opening games whilst Sexton hasn’t played in almost six months and may take some time to shake off the rust.
With that in mind, Paolo Garbisi is the most alluring option.
With Italy’s matchup against Namibia, his world-class playmaking, running and kicking abilities and at only 8.5 credits, Garbisi is due for a big points haul in the opening round.
Carter Gordon (9.0 credits) is another attractive option as he comes in off the back of three straight starts for the Wallabies.
As for cheaper fly-halves, Chile’s Rodrigo Fernandez (6.0 credits) is an underrated option given his electric running ability, one that saw him win World Rugby’s try of the year in 2022, with Fiji’s Caleb Muntz (7.5 credits) and Georgia’s Luka Matvaka (7.0 credits) also good options given their stellar form in the warm-up games.
Centres
There’s no shortage of talent amongst the centres this World Cup, wherever you look it’s one box office player after another.
There are premium options across the park including the likes of Gael Fickou (10.0 credits), Rieko Ioane (10.0 credits) and Garry Ringrose (9.0 credits), who will all be reliable point scorers given their attacking prowess.
Fijian trio Semi Radradra (10.0 credits), Waisea Nayacalevu (7.0 credits) and Josua Tuisova (8.0 credits) are all set to cause havoc against Wales with Tuisova likely to start on the wing meaning all three present solid options in the midfield.
However, Japan’s Dylan Riley is my best value pick from the centres for the opening round as the South African born powerhouse should exploit Chile’s defence and you’ll only need to spend 5.5 credits to have him.
Georgia’s Merab Sharikadze at seven credits is another option to ponder after he made 23 tackles without a miss in their final warm-up game against Scotland.
Outside Backs
Outside backs will be where the biggest points of difference lie between fantasy squads this World Cup.
With the points-scoring system rewarding game breakers so favourably, this is where you should target some big guns and for gameweek one, Ireland’s back three weapons should be your port of call.
The number one ranked side in the world enjoy a matchup against Romania and many are expecting an avalanche of Irish points that fantasy owners can capitalise on so look no further than James Lowe and Mack Hansen, who have scored a combined eight tries in Ireland’s last six games.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli is a tantalising option at only seven credits. Not only will his lethal attacking abilities result in a mountain of points, but his placekicking duties add a unique point-scoring element.
Italy’s high-octane fullback Ange Capuozzo (5.0 credits) has been selected by 46.4% of fantasy teams and for good reason given his wicked footwork and running abilities will be on full display against a vulnerable Nambian defence.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments