RugbyPass Premiership Fantasy: 4 tips on how to absolutely smash it this season
It’s been about three months since last season’s Premiership ended and a lot has happened in the world in that time. A giant inflatable baby president caused chaos in London, we lost (then swiftly regained) Brooklyn Nine-Nine and had to consider the terrifying prospect of a Terry Crews-less existence, and a summer heatwave caused widespread melting and overly optimistic barbecue investment across Europe.
On the rugby side of things, Eddie Jones’s England already fractured honeymoon period was well and truly brought to an end in slippery conditions in South Africa, New Zealand continued to prove that they’re actually quite good at this rugby lark and half the Melbourne Rebels squad decided getting arrested would be preferable to cardio training.
Now though, the Premiership is back and we can look forward to another season of twists, turns and Tuilagi brothers. With Rugby Pass Fantasy League, you can jump into the proverbial Director of Rugby driving seat and try to predict just who the best performing players will be each week.
To help you pick the best side possible, here are a few tips on how you can make sure you’re fighting it out at the top come the end of the season:
- Pick your stars first
You’ve got a limited budget to play with so the first step in choosing a fantasy team is to pick your stars. That doesn’t mean blow all your cash early on big name players, but invest in those you absolutely can’t live without – the ones who will bring in the serious points. For my team (Skåne RFC if you’re interested), I opted for Jonny May on the wing despite a hefty $7million price tag because I’m banking on him bagging enough tries to justify the cost. Similarly, Sam Simmonds’s $6.5m salary is pretty steep for a flanker but his average haul of 14.25 points a game last season coupled with his likelihood to play week in week out makes him a must pick for my side.
- Take a gamble
Not every pick will be a sure thing. I’ve gone for Dylan Hartley at hooker despite his inherent unpredictability. It’s a move that may not pay off, but if Hartley plays (and if he stays on the bloody field), he’s amongst the top performing hookers in the country. And if it doesn’t pan out, I’ve got the option to heartlessly kick him to the kerb in favour of younger talent, just one of the many similarities between myself and Eddie Jones.
- Go bargain hunting
As with the real deal, a salary cap applies to Rugby Pass Fantasy League (and this one is actually enforced). This means you can’t fill your squad with superstars – you have to go rooting around in the bargain bin to find players that will bring in the points without breaking the bank. I’ve gone for Sales’ AJ McGinty at Fly Half, because for just $5.1m (low for his position), he still bagged an average of 11.51 points a game last season – the same as the much more expensive Owen Farrell. Fly Half is a key points-scoring position, so having a player with a decent kicking record and who will play regularly is vital.
- Research, review and revise
One of the main reasons for an underperforming Fantasy League team is a lack of attention. You have to nurture it and show it lots of love and affection, like a puppy that’s actually 15 giant blokes stuck together. I was all set to have Chris Ashton as the lynchpin of my back three, hoping he’d bring his Top 14 form with him on his return to Premiership action. However, Flash’s stint on the naughty step means keeping him in my side would be both literally and figuratively pointless.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on injuries, suspensions and anything else with Rugby Pass to make sure you know exactly who you should keep and who needs the boot. Another great way to keep the points rolling in is to take the Moneyball approach and use Rugby Pass Fantasy League’s Scout, a tool that monitors player behaviour using rich statistical analysis to give you vital insights into how your team is performing. Finally, being a nerd might help me succeed in something sports related.
Good luck and happy picking! – Sign up Here
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments