Fantasy Rugby Reflections – Aviva Premiership Rounds 1-6 on Fantasy Rugby Draft

Fantasy Rugby Geekon

Now that we are in the European break, we’ve taken the opportunity to reflect on a breathless first quarter of the league season in the Aviva Premiership on Fantasy Rugby Draft. There have been shocks and surprises, break outs and disappointments; so let’s take a look back on the stars so far and look ahead as to who could be making waves over the next 6 rounds of this enthralling season…

Looking Back

It’s been an incredible season so far, it would have been hard to believe after the opening Saturday, after their comprehensive dismantling at the hands of Saracens in Round 1, that 4 short weeks later Northampton Saints would be topping the table. Or that after tearing apart Sale in Round 1, Wasps would lose three on the bounce, including two games at fortress Ricoh. Or that after defeating the reigning champions on the opening night, Gloucester would go on to be shredded 57-10 at the hands of Sale (actually, that’s probably the most “Gloucester” thing possible…). It’s been the first season ever that after three rounds, all teams had lost at least once. However, despite all of this, there have been some consistent performers.

Saracens Front Row

The top scorers in the game by a considerable distance; the likes of Jamie George, Vincent Koch, Schalk Brits and Mako Vunipola have been running riot since Round One when they scored an astonishing 60.5 points. Averaging a try a game as well as over 400m gained in 6 matches, they show no sign of letting up and they have strength in depth throughout. Next year’s first pick in the ranking?

Jonny May

Jonny May has made an electrifying start to his new Leicester career, with 6 league tries to his name already. In just 6 games he has gained 473 metres, 15 clean breaks, 24 defenders beaten and 11 offloads, and he finds himself as the top scoring Outside Back in the game. With form like this, he will surely be a instrumental part of Eddie Jones’ Autumn International squad, so this points scoring form may dry up.

George Ford

It’s been said that the hardest position for any new signing to come in and make an immediate impact in is at 10; however George Ford has put this theory on its head with a series of outstanding performances. Ford is the top scoring fly half in Fantasy Rugby Draft with a total of 123 points scored (over 24 points more than his nearest Fly-half competitor, the wonderkid Marcus Smith). He will be expected to be the starting 10 for England’s Autumn campaign so his stats for the next 6 matches may not be quite so impressive.

Olly Woodburn

One player who has hit the ground running this season and will be expected to maintain the form during the international window is the Chiefs flyer, Olly Woodburn. Now a reliable fantasy performer over a number of seasons, Woodburn has amassed 152.3 points over the course of the first 6 rounds including a huge 573 metres gained as well as 5 tries to his name. He is a consistent scorer and if he is in your squad should always be in your starting lineup.

Sam Simmonds

Sam Simmonds has made a sensational start to the season and despite missing Round 5 due to the head injury he picked up against Wasps, he remains the top scoring individual forward in the game. Simmonds’ all-action style has reaped 5 tries, 299 metres gained, 21 defenders beaten, and 55 tackles made (with just 3 tackles missed and just 2 penalties conceded). A truly outstanding contribution that surely Eddie Jones cannot ignore with the England back row options looking depleted. With Thomas Waldrom nearing a return to fitness it will be interesting to see how they work together. For the final minutes of the Glasgow European match, Waldrom came on at 8 with Simmonds shifting out to 7. Simmonds duly went on to score the final try of the game, making a mouth-watering future Chiefs back row combination of Armand-Simmonds-Waldrom that should put fear into the hearts of any team visiting Sandy Park.

Looking Forward

We are now reaching the stage of the season where squad depth is key. The international break will see a large number of the games top performers taken out of club action to focus on international duty, allowing the opportunity for some figures who have been on the periphery thus far to now take centre stage. Looking at the fixtures, certain teams have got some good runs coming up over the next 6 rounds and so they should be invested in. These include Saracens (including London Irish at home on the 28th October and Worcester at home on the 30th December), Newcastle (including home against Gloucester on the 24th November and away at London Irish on the 30th December) and Leicester (including back to back home games against Sale and Worcester on the 18th and 24th November respectively).

Bearing in mind the international window and the fixture schedule, you’d be highly recommended to bring in the following players. Get trading!

Saracens Front Row

As mentioned above, the Sarries Front Row are a consistent points machine that shows no sign of letting up despite Jamie George and Mako Vunipola’s impending England call-ups. They have home games against both Worcester and London Irish in the next 6 rounds, so expect to see them remain at the very top of the games high scorers.

Olly Woodburn

It is a huge shame, but Olly Woodburn remains out of Eddie Jones’ preferred winger group, however this is good news for both Exeter Chiefs and his Fantasy Rugby Draft owners who will be keen to see Woodburn’s scintillating start to the season continue.

Alex Goode

Alex Goode seems to be out of contention at England level, but with Liam Williams and Sean Maitland away on international duty in November, Sarries fans won’t be complaining. Goode has started the season in great form with a try, 3 assists, a massive 562 metres gained and 14 defenders beaten and with home games against both Worcester and London Irish in the next 6 rounds, Goode and the rest of the Sarries outside backs will be looking to fill their boots.

Byron McGuigan

Classified as a midfielder but playing and regularly scoring big on the wing, Byron McGuigan is proving himself as a Fantasy Rugby Draft essential this season. He has scored 6 tries already and has gained 448 metres, so is in red hot form. Having played for Scotland 7s previously and with international ambitions, the Scottish selectors have surely been watching his progress, but as yet he remains uncapped at international 15’s level, so may be safe from a FRD perspective during the internationals.

Vereniki Goneva

Newcastle have started the season on fire and with minimal numbers of internationals in their squad, it is hoped that they will maintain this form throughout the winter, at the heart of these performances is the fantasy legend Niki Goneva, who has been doing what he does every season and tearing field up with his all out attacking play. His stats so far speak for themselves, 5 games played, 4 tries, 274 metres gained and 17 defenders beaten, and as he continues his return from injury he will get better and better. Watch him fly!

Nick Malouf

Malouf made a shaky start but is now quickly adapting to life in the 15-man game and in the Aviva Premiership. His form in the last 4 games has been particularly impressive, crossing the whitewash three times. With Jonny May on England duty, he will be expected to step up over the next few games, and with the Tigers having back to back home games against Sale and Worcester on the 18th and 24th November respectively, Tigers fans and FRD managers will be expecting big returns from the 7s convert!

We may be 6 weeks in, but there is still time to play Fantasy Rugby Draft if you aren’t playing yet. Set up a league here, invite your mates (post details on the Fantasy Rugby Draft Hall of Fame facebook group here if you need more players) and get drafting!

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