The second in a series of game overviews to give you the ins and outs of the available games in place for this season’s Super Rugby. If any new games pop up, please let us know at fantasyrugbygeek@gmail.com or @frugbygeek on Twitter. Next under the microscope is a new game for this season by our friends at The Rugby Magazine, check it out here.
THE PREMISE
A salary cap style game with a nod to Fantasy Premier League but with a few new and innovative tweaks for rugby.
You have a budget of $7m to build a squad of a minimum of 28 players, from these 28 you must pick a match day 23, all of whom will score for you (your bench getting you half points). As your entire match day 23 scores points, it crucial that you use your limited transfers wisely. Similarly to FPL, the players’ value increases and decreases over the course of the season, so as the season goes on you can build your team’s value.
A really nice touch is the allowance of players to play in multiple positions, reflecting the real life scenario that someone may be a bit of a utility player popping up in multiple positions over the course of the season. So Jordie Barrett, for example, is assigned as a Fly Half, Full Back, Wing and Centre. This will allow a bit more flexibility when it comes to building your match day 23.
The transfer system is slightly complicated. Once the season is up and running, you are limited to releasing 5 players per week – only 1 of these are free though, the remainder will each incur a 20 point transfer penalty. There is no limit on how many players you can bring into your squad, other than the remaining budget in your salary cap.
Launched this season for the Aviva Premiership, it’s a new game for Super Rugby, and it will be exciting to see how it goes. It’s certainly been very well received for the Aviva Premiership.
THE KEY POINTS
- Squad Size: A minimum of 28
- Team size: 23 – The 8 on your bench will earn half points
- Double scoring captain?: Yes
- Designated Kicker?: Yes
- Transfers: 1 free transfer (player release) per gameweek, up to 4 more releases allowed at a cost of 20 points per release
- Max players from one club: 5
THE EDGE
Use your squad well
It seems the most crucial observation is that you must use your squad well, it is critical that you have a match day 23 of players who should always be involved. 23 starters, even better, but what with squad rotation this is always a challenge. Avoid the temptation to load your starting XV with superstars, with your bench earning you half points, you are better served building a balanced squad of consistent performers rather than 15 superstars and a bench of low scorers.
Top of the Props
With a point on offer for every metre gained by props, you must bring in props who have a history of ball carrying for metres. The likes of Jacques van Rooyen, Allan Ala’alatoa, Thomas du Toit & Coenie Oosthuizen are essentials this game and are also solid captain choices. Ball-carrying locks also tend to score big. Crunch the stats and hunt down the carrying kings!
Multiposition players are worth their weight in gold
Given the transfer restrictions and the squad size, by filling your squad with players who can play in multiple positions, you will provide your team with a lot more flexibility in case of injury, resting and rotation.
Players who like to run with the ball have the potential to score big
You will be well rewarded with players who run the ball in from deep and can take on and beat players, so load your team up with fullbacks and wings who like to run with the ball. The likes of Damian McKenzie and Rieko Ioane are obvious choices here, but the likes of Courtnall Skosan, Andries Coetzee and Ngani Laumape would have also scored very highly last season.
Plan ahead
Keep an eye on the fixture list when making your transfers to ensure that you get the best bang for your buck. If a certain team has a good run of games coming up bring them in. Conversely a side could have an attractive fixture that week but follows up with some tough games against the top dogs, it could be worth reconsidering!
With the restrictions in place on transfers as well, you must keep a close eye on bye weeks. Avoid bringing in players who have bye weeks immediately after, you’ll only be looking offload them just after having brought them in. Below is a full list of 2018 byes.
Bye weeks…
Round 1 – All NZ sides, All AUS Sides, Sunwolves and Bulls
Round 2 – Sharks
Round 3 – Highlanders
Round 4 – Chiefs
Round 5 – Hurricanes
Round 6 – Brumbies, Waratahs, Blues
Round 7 – Sunwolves, Jaguares, Reds
Round 8 – Blues, Rebels, Highlanders
Round 9 – Stormers, Lions, Crusaders
Round 10 – Hurricanes
Round 11 – Sharks, Waratahs, Chiefs
Round 12 – Sunwolves, Brumbies, Reds
Round 13 – Jaguares
Round 14 – Rebels
Round 15 – Blues
Round 16 – All SA Sides and Jaguares
Round 17 – Crusaders
Round 18 – Lions
Round 19 – Stormers
If you back your Fantasy Rugby skills to lead you to Fantasy Super Rugby 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 public leagues and join “Fantasy Rugby Geek”. Good luck!
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