Another of our weekly pre-match updates where we analyse the weekend’s lineups, crunch the stats and see what the bookies are thinking to help you optimise your lineups for peak performance this weekend!
Potential mismatches
Round 6 provides some mouthwatering prospects, with some fantastic matchups and some outstanding fantasy prospects. When it comes to fantasy, look no further than the Rec, where Bath will be taking on a Worcester side bereft of confidence, ravaged by injuries and with a manager and owner both soon to be on their way out. Roko and co will be expected to have a field day.
Elsewhere, in the eyes of the bookies, Wasps’ disappointing recent form and injury crisis, coupled with an unfortunately timed visit to Allianz Park, leads them to be classified as big underdogs against Saracens. A visit to Sandy Park is always an uphill battle, and despite Newcastle’s outstanding early season form, Exeter are expected to comfortably take the Falcons down.
In Paddy Power’s eyes the most nailed on games this weekend with a projected winning margin greater than 10 is…
- Bath to beat Worcester with a margin of 20 points
- Saracens to beat Wasps with a margin of 13 points
- Exeter to beat Newcastle with a margin of 13 points
Elsewhere, Quins are expected to narrowly squeeze past Sale at home and Leicester are expected to comfortably dispatch a leaky London Irish at the Mad Stad. Down at Kingsholm, the bookies are having trouble separating the league leaders Northampton at home against last week’s whipping boys Gloucester. Let’s be fair, Gloucester defeating the league leaders coming off the back of their worst performance for a good 10 years would be officially the most ‘Gloucester’ thing ever (plus it’s at home, which means back Glaws all the way!)
Top 5 most likely to score (Odds via Paddy Power)
- 1 Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.4
- 2 Jack Nowell (Exter) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.44
- 3 Aled Brew (Bath) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.57
- 4= Olly Woodburn (Exeter) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.72
- 4= Liam Williams (Saracens) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.72
- 4= Chris Wyles (Saracens) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.72
Expected to go well
*Players who are starting favourably out of position (i.e. Hooker in back row, Centre on wing, etc.)
Recommended captain pick in bold
FRONT ROW
Jack Walker (Bath)
Ross Harrison (Sale)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Greg Bateman (Leicester)
Jamie George (Saracens)
LOCKS
Charlie Ewels (Bath)
Don Armand* (Exeter)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Dom Barrow (Leicester)
Maro Itoje* (Saracens)
BACK ROW
Jackson Wray (Saracens)
Zach Mercer (Bath)
Sam Skinner (Exeter)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter)
Sione Kalamafoni (Leicester)
Taulupe Faletau (Bath)
SCRUM-HALF
Nic White (Exeter)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Sam Harrison (Leicester)
FLY HALF
Freddie Burns (Bath)
George Ford (Leicester)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Henry Slade* (Exeter)
CENTRES
Jonathan Joseph (Bath)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
Ben Tapui (Bath)
Byron McGuigan (Sale)
OUTSIDE BACKS
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonny May (Leicester)
Olly Woodburn (Exeter)
Aled Brew (Bath)
Telusa Veianu (Leicester)
Liam Williams (Saracens)
Under-the-radar pick
Aled Brew – The hard-running Welsh international has enjoyed a true renaissance over his 18 months at Bath and has hit teh ground running this season withs ome impressive performances (albeit in the shadow of the magnificent Semesa Rokoduguni). Bath face the faltering Worcester at The Rec on Saturday and if he sees some ball he should be expevcted to generate some serious fantasy returns. In Fantasy Rugby Draft he is widely available to be picked up off the waivers and in The Rugby Magazine, he can be added for a bargain £170k (and under 1% ownership), well worth a punt!
If you want some more sources to help you finalise your decisions, go to our resources page where you’ll find all this year’s Aviva Premiership fantasy games, all the stats sources, injury news, team news, fantasy relevant rugby betting odds and tons of other useful information.
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