Fantasy Rugby World Cup 2019 Preview – Pool C

Fantasy Rugby Geekon

With Friday 20th September fast approaching, it’s time to delve a bit deeper into the potential fantasy Rugby World Cup stars. So over the next two weeks FRG is providing a quick preview of all the teams from a fantasy perspective. Next up is Pool C, featuring England, Argentina, France, Tonga and USA. 

England

In a nutshell

Under the management of Eddie Jones, England have experienced highs and lows, but ultimately Jones has crafted a well organised side with many strengths and that have found themselves ranked consistently above South Africa and Australia in the world rankings. The last Rugby World Cup was an unmitigated disaster for England and a repeat performance will not be tolerated. They are in a tough group with both Argentina and France, but they will be expected to top the table with a side stacked with international experience.
 

Odds on winning RWC 2019

5/1

Best previous RWC performance

Winners (2003)

Most likely to make a fantasy impact

Jonny May (Outside Back – Leicester Tigers)

Key players to consider

Kyle Sinckler (Prop – Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Prop – Saracens), Jamie George (Hooker – Saracens), Maro Itoje (Lock – Saracens), Billy Vunipola (Loose Forward – Saracens), Owen Farrell (Fly Half – Saracens), Henry Slade (Centre – Exeter Chiefs), Manu Tuilagi (Centre – Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Outside Back – Leicester Tigers), Elliot Daly (Centre/Outside Back – Saracens)

Matches with best potential for points returns

Sept 22 – England v Tonga – Sapporo Dome, Sapporo
Sept 26 – England v USA – Misaki Stadium, Kobe

Argentina

In a nutshell

Argentina go from strength to strength, with dual benefit of regular top class international experience in The Rugby Championship and closer-knit dynamics in the majority of the team forged through the enormously successful Jaguares Super Rugby franchise, they will be a match for most and will be a good “dark horse” pick. Bolstered by their European-based talent, they have ability all over the park and should return well for fantasy managers, particularly against the likes of the US Eagles and Tonga.
 

Odds on winning RWC 2019

33/1

Best previous RWC performance

Semi-Final (2007, 2015)

Most likely to make a fantasy impact

Emiliano Boffelli (Outside Back – Jaguares)

Key players to consider

Agustín Creevy (Hooker – Jaguares), Guido Petti (Lock – Jaguares), Pablo Matera (Loose Forward – Stade Français), Nicolás Sánchez (Fly Half – Stade Français), Matías Orlando (Centre – Jaguares), Emiliano Boffelli (Outside Back – Jaguares)

Matches with best potential for points returns

Sept 28 – Argentina v Tonga – Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka City
Oct 09 – Argentina v USA – Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya City

France

In a nutshell

Ever the enigma, the infuriatingly brilliant yet inconsistent French have a rich World Cup history but have fallen at the final hurdle on three occasions in 1987, 1999 and 2011. This year they enter the tournament in low spirits after a poor Six Nations but there is also hope in the form of bright young talents in the likes of Damien Penaud, Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont. This tournament may be slightly too early for those talents to fully flourish however and they would be expected to bow out in the group stage against strong Argentina and England sides.
 

Odds on winning RWC 2019

33/1

Best previous RWC performance

Finalists (1987, 1999, 2011)

Most likely to make a fantasy impact

Antoine Dupont (Scrum Half – Toulouse)

Key players to consider

Demba Bamba (Prop – Lyon), Guilhem Guirado (Hooker – Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Loose Forward – Montpellier), Gregory Alldritt (Loose Forward – La Rochelle), Antoine Dupont (Scrum Half – Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Outside Back – Toulouse), Damian Penaud (Centre/Outside Back – Clermont)

Matches with best potential for points returns

Oct 2 – France v USA – Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka
Oct 6 – France v Tonga – Kumamoto Stadium, Kumamoto

Tonga

In a nutshell

Tonga find themselves in an unenviably tough Pool and despite punching well above their weight for many years (including a famous victory over the eventual Finalists, France, in 2011) when you consider its population, they look set to struggle this time around, and may well find themselves winless at the end of the tournament.Tonga have some mercurial talents in the likes of Siale Piatau, Tane Takulua and Telusa Veianu, all of whom could make an impact against the biggest of sides, however, their best hope will be against the US Eagles on the final day of the Pool Stage in what should be a huge match-up.

Odds on winning RWC 2019

500/1

Best previous RWC performance

Group Stage (1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)

Most likely to make a fantasy impact

Telusa Veianu (Outside Back – Leicester Tigers)

Key players to consider

Sione Kalamafoni (Loose Forward – Leicester Tigers), Tane Takulua (Scrum Half – Newcastle Falcons), Siale Piutau (Centre – Bristol Bears), Telusa Veainu (Outside Back – Leicester Tigers)

Matches with best potential for points returns

Oct 13 – Tonga v USA – Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka

USA

In a nutshell

Completing the five in Pool C are the US Eagles. While their Sevens side has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years, they have struggled to make an impact in the full size game. This said they have made positive steps since the last World Cup and will be earmarking the battle against Tonga as a key victory. The team is made up of players in the new domestic MLR league and in Europe and in AJ MacGinty, they have a genuine talent at 10 who can direct them towards victory. They should defeat Tonga and may well also run the “Big 3” in Pool C close.
 

Odds on winning RWC 2019

500/1

Best previous RWC performance

Group Stage (1987, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)

Most likely to make a fantasy impact

AJ MacGinty (Fly Half – Sale Sharks)

Key players to consider

Joe Taufete’e (Hooker – Worcester Warriors), Titi Lamositele (Prop – Saracens), AJ MacGinty (Fly Half – Sale Sharks)

Matches with best potential for points returns

Oct 13 – Tonga v USA – Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka

POOL C PREDICTIONS…

  1. England
  2. Argentina
  3. France
  4. USA
  5. Tonga

If you want to learn more about the other Pools, check out our overview of Pool A here, Pool B here and Pool D here.

 

 

Fantasy Rugby Games for Rugby World Cup

A summary of the top games that you can play fantasy rugby for the Rugby World Cup…

  • The Rugby Magazine – Stats rich salary cap style game – Check out our review here
  • PlayOn – Daily Fantasy for Rugby – Sign up today here to receive a free $22 entry with a first-time deposit – Check out a previous review here (Rugby World Cup review coming…).
  • SuperBru – An old favourite with salary cap fantasy rugby among other games and sports – Check out our review here.
  • The Irish Times – Salary cap game with a €3000 top prize – Check out our review here.
  • The Daily Telegraph – Salary cap game with a £5000 top prize – Check out our review here.

Pre-tournament articles

In case you missed any of our other pre-World Cup articles, make sure you check out the following to help guide your pre-tournament preparations…

Get free tickets to The Rugby Show

The Rugby Show is a two-day gathering at the Ricoh Arena, home of Wasps, in July 2020. The Rugby Show already has a fantastic range of phenomenal speakers from across the professional game. The likes of Lawrence Dallaglio, Maggie Alphonsi, current England World Cup duo, Joe Marler and George Kruis and World Cup winner Sarah Hunter will be talking about their own experiences, about coping with injury, maintaining fitness, nutrition, providing demonstrations on how to improve your skills as a player and more. The line-up also includes recent MMA convert James Haskell, Premiership regulars Jimmy Gopperth and Tommy Taylor to name a few.

Registration has now gone live and as an ambassador of the Rugby Show, Fantasy Rugby Geek is offering you FREE ENTRY to the event (which usually costs £15 for an adult ticket). Click this link https://the-rugby-show-2020.reg.buzz/fantasy-rugby-geek and enter the following code TRS20GRASSROOTS to book your FREE tickets now!

Looking for more Fantasy Rugby insight and Resources?

New for the 2019/20 season, we are proud to present the The Fantasy Rugby Handbook. An exhaustive collection of wisdom and experience gained from over a decade of fantasy rugby playing. Primarily aimed at less experienced players but with enough nuggets of wisdom and insight for even the most grizzled fantasy rugby veteran. There is something here for all players. The eBook is available to download now for just £3.99 on Gumroad as a PDF and on Amazon in Kindle format (Free on Kindle Unlimited) – check it out!

If you want some more sources to help you finalise your decisions, go to our resources page where you’ll find all the 2019 Rugby World Cup fantasy games, all the stats sources, injury news, team news, fantasy relevant rugby betting odds and tons of other useful information.

Found this interesting or useful and looking for more Fantasy Rugby news, tips and advice? Follow @frugbygeek on Twitter, Like us on Facebook or sign up to the newsletter below to get fantasy rugby news delivered straight to you!

If you back your Fantasy Rugby skills to lead you to Fantasy Rugby World Cup glory and win you some stash while you are at it, then join our public fantasy league on The Rugby Magazine fantasy game, where a Fantasy Rugby Geek Trucker Hat will be on offer for the winner of the league. To join, Sign up to the game here & go to Leaderboards > Public Leagues and join “Fantasy Rugby Geek”. Good luck!

SUBSCRIBE HERE FOR FANTASY RUGBY NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX