1
With Super Rugby kicking off today, we’ve launched our very own Fantasy league. You can set up your own competition with friends, or join the public leagues, where we’ll be giving away spot prizes during the season. You can join at any time as we’ll be running both overall and weekly leagues. Sign up free at Fantasy Rugger.
ADVERTISEMENT
The game has real time stats and facts on every player in Super Rugby & we’ll be writing up summaries each week giving you an insight into the top performers. Here are a few suggestions from our contributor Christopher Duffy:
Outside Back
The vast number of potent attacking threats across the Super Rugby competition makes this position extremely difficult to choose. The Kiwi sides are renowned for their lethal finishing on the wings and it is tough to look past the Chiefs, Damien McKenzie. He topped the stats in 2016 Super Rugby season for clean breaks, defenders beaten, metres gained, and carries alongside 3rd place ranking for tries scored. Likely to be popular, he should still be well worth a place in the squad.
Centre
The Queensland Reds failed to find any form last season but the same cannot be said for some of their players. In a side that was struggling for consistency and form, Samu Kerevi stood out as an exceptional player. Despite the Reds failings, he managed to clock up some impressive statistics with 62 defenders beaten and 988 metres gained. All of this outside a pack that was struggling for momentum and a back line without leadership. Imagine what Kerevi can achieve this year playing on the shoulder of Quade Cooper and a forward pack marshalled by Stephen Moore and George Smith.
Flyhalf
Reliable goal kicker or try scoring machine? It’s hard to decide what to have in place at flyhalf. Thankfully the Barrett family of New Zealand created a rugby player capable of being precisely both of those things. If Beauden Barrett can continue the sensational form that saw the Hurricanes claim the title last season, then he will be a vital part of any team. Not to mention he was the top point score of 2016 with 223 points.
Scrumhalf
Looking around the competition, there are plenty of exceptional scrumhalves on show. One that may go under the radar due to injury is Martin Landajo. The Argentine 9 epitomises all that was great about the Jaguares in their opening season. He orchestrates their fast paced, free flowing game and is not shy when getting involved in the attack. Expect him to back all guns blazing in a few weeks once he recovers from injury.
ADVERTISEMENT
Back Row
Ardie Savea would barge his way into most back rows, especially on the back of his performances last season. The Hurricanes flanker topped the tackling stats making a massive 205 tackles on his way to securing the Super Rugby trophy. Coupled with his attacking threat, Savea will once again be thrusting his name into the selection pot for the All Blacks this year. With it being a Lions Tour year, expect many of the Kiwis to be working harder to wear the New Zealand jersey in June.
Second Row
South Africa seems to have a production line of imposing second row players capable of dominating line outs and destroying opposition scrums. Pieter-Steph Du Toit will be joining his Springbok teammate Eben Etzebeth in the Stormers side. Either of these man mountains would be a worthy pick, but Du Toit edges it as he has a major point to prove that he can be consistently as good as Etzebeth. His line out presence (3rd highest takes in 2016) is a vital cog in his development.
Hooker
Purely because he can’t be chosen in the outside backs, Dane Coles must be selected at hooker. Coles has revolutionised the position of hooker as he has pieced together the two composites that fans and coaches looked for. A strong set piece and a presence around the field. Coles can scrum, hits his line out throws and then sprints off to make metres with ball in hand and show a touch of razzle dazzle with sidestep and passes worthy of any player.
ADVERTISEMENT
Prop
Best to make use of this prop before he boards the plane for France. Charlie Faumuina will compete in this Super Rugby season before heading off to the Top 14 and Toulouse. This devastating All Black can play both sides of the scrum, hits hard and makes metres. He will be a huge loss the Blues so utilise whilst he’s still a part of Super Rugby.
Hopefully this gives you some more ideas on selection for Super Rugby 2017 Fantasy Rugger. Follow us throughout the season for more tips on who to pick and see if you can beat my team.
Statistics courtesy of SANZAAR Rugby
You can also catch every single Super Rugby game this season live on RugbyPass.com across selected
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments