Our latest instalment of our weekly pre-match updates (slightly shortened this week) 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! By the time you finish this article you should have all the insight you need to score big fantasy points this weekend.
Make sure you come back every weekend before finalising your lineups!
Potential mismatches
The bookies are expecting big wins this week for Gloucester and Exeter so load up. The general expectations for the match results from the bookies are as follows…
- Gloucester to beat Bristol by 15 points
- Exeter to beat Sale by 24 points
- Harlequins to beat Bath by 5 points
- Saracens to beat Northampton by 10 points
- Worcester v Newcastle simply too close to call
- Wasps to beat Leicester by 6 points
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
Please note that these picks have been published before lineups were announced, so some of these picks may not be playing. Please double check the starting XV before you commit to your teams, or check back here at 1pm BST.
FRONT ROW
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter)
Val Rapava Ruskin (Gloucester)
Vincent Koch (Sarecanes)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Franco Marais (Gloucester)
LOCKS
Jonny Hill (Exeter)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Gerbrandt Grobler (Gloucester)
Will Spencer (Leicester)
BACK ROW
Sam Simmonds (Exeter)
Jake Polledri (Gloucester)
Matt Kvesic (Exeter)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
SCRUM-HALF
Ben Spencer (Saracens)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Callum Braley (Gloucester)
FLY HALF
Joe Simmonds (Exeter)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Lima Sopoaga (Wasps)
CENTRES
Elliot Daly (Wasps)*
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester)
Henry Slade (Exeter)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
OUTSIDE BACKS
Jason Woodward (Gloucester)
Santi Cordero (Exeter)
Alex Lewington (Saracens)
Nathan Earle (Harlequins)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath)
Matt Banahan (Gloucester)
Top 5 most likely to score (Odds via Paddy Power)
- 1 – Jack Nowell (Exeter) – 1.5
- 2= – Santiago Cordero (Exeter) – 1.53
- 2= – Matt Banahan (Gloucester) – 1.53
- 4 – Charlie Sharples (Gloucester) – 1.62
- 5 – Christian Wade (Wasps) – 1.67
Looking to join a competitive fantasy rugby league and win some stash while you are at it? Then join our public fantasy league on The Rugby Magazine fantasy game. Sign up to the game here & go to public leagues and join “Fantasy Rugby Geek”, a Fantasy Rugby Geek Trucker Hat will be on offer for the winners of each league. Learn more about The Rugby Magazine’s Fantasy Game with our overview here.
Good luck!
Looking for more Fantasy Rugby insight and Resources?
New for the 2018/19 season, we are proud to present the The Fantasy Rugby Geek Guide to Fantasy Rugby. 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 £4.99 on Gumroad as a PDF and on Amazon in Kindle format – 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 this year’s Gallagher Premiership 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!
SUBSCRIBE HERE FOR FANTASY RUGBY NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
Love Stash???
In addition to stocking all of the kit for the new season, Lovell Rugby are currently running some great weekly deals, where there are some amazing bargains to be had, as well as the remainder of their end of season sale with up 80% off all kinds of great kit including rugby boots, international & club rugby shirts, protection, coaching, training, nutrition and rugby leisurewear. Don’t sleep on these amazing deals and get over to Lovell Rugby!