Welcome to our next instalment of our weekly pre-match updates for the Natwest Six Nations 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 (although we can’t help with the multiple injuries and selection changes after Round 1!).
What will go down…
Round 3 arrives with 3 more mouthwatering fixtures, and in the eyes of the bookies, there is one stand out fixture of Round 3 in terms of potentially high fantasy returns, and two others that look to have a high probability in going the way of the favourites.
With pre-tournament favourites Ireland heading to face perennial wooden spooners Italy, unsurprisingly the bookies have awarded the biggest mismatch to the battle in Rome. They expect Ireland to win by 30 points and with a crucial bonus point in play, Ireland won’t be holding back.
Elsewhere, France will want to put a torrid first two rounds behind them at home to Scotland. The French side named by Jaques Brunel is the most balanced XV named by Les Bleus all tournament, and the bookies are expecting France to finally chalk their first W against an inury-ravaged Scotland. The bookies have given France a 6 point handicap.
Finally, at the Principality, in arguably the game of the round, a buoyant England visit a Wales side who, despite being on a record-equalling 11th straight victory, have flattered to deceive in this year’s Six Nations. The Principality is a tough place for any team to visit, but the bookies have given England a 4 point handicap. It will unquestionably be the tightest of battles.
Top 10 most likely to score (Odds via Paddy Power)
- 1= Jacob Stockdale (Ireland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.44
- 1= Keith Earls (Ireland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.44
- 3= Sean Cronin (Ireland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.91
- 3= Jonny May (England) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.91
- 5= Conor Murray (Ireland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.3
- 5= Jack Nowell (England) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.3
- 7= Damian Penaud (France) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.4
- 7= Yoan Huget (France) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.4
- 9= Rob Kearney (Ireland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.5
- 9= Bundee Aki (Ireland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.5
- 9= Jordi Murphy (Ireland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.5
Expected to go well
*Players who are starting favourably out of position (i.e. Hooker in back row, Centre on wing, etc.)
HOOKERS
Jamie George (England)
Sean Cronin (Ireland)
PROPS
Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Dave Kilcoyne (Ireland)
Demba Bamba (France)
LOCKS
Jonny Gray (Scotland)
Courtney Lawes (England)
Ultan Dillane (Ireland)
BACK ROW
Sean O’Brien (Ireland)
Jordi Murphy (Ireland)
Billy Vunipola (England)
Luis Picamoles (France)
SCRUM-HALF
Conor Murray (Ireland)
Antoine Dupont (France)
FLY HALF
Owen Farrell (England) – *In some games as Centre
Jonny Sexton (Ireland)
CENTRES
Bundee Aki (Ireland)
Damian Penaud (France)*
Henry Slade (England)
OUTSIDE BACKS
Keith Earls (Ireland)
Jacob Stockdale (Ireland)
Thomas Ramos (France)
Jonny May (England)
Likely Kickers
Thomas Ramos (France)*
Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
Jonny Sexton (Ireland)
Owen Farrell (England)
Gareth Anscombe (Wales)
Tommaso Allan (Italy)
*With Parra and Lopez both dropped, and Ramos in fine kicking form at Toulouse this season, he is strongly expected start the game on kicking duty.
Under-the-radar pick
Antoine Dupont – One faint ray of sunshine in France’s chastening visit to Twickenham in Round Two was the explosive cameo appearance of Antoine Dupont. In 34 short minutes he put up some astonishing stats…
Could Dupont turn things around for France? 🤔 #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/2Zhnqejhib
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) February 11, 2019
…he has now been handed a role in the starting XV and should take the opportunity with both hands. If his performance against England is anything to go by, he should be within the points by the time the final whistle blows at the Stade de France on Saturday afternoon.
The Games
- ESPN Scrum
- The Rugby Magazine
- SuperBru
- The Official Guinness Six Nations game
- The Daily Telegraph
- PlayOn (Daily Fantasy)
If you back your Fantasy Rugby skills to lead you to Fantasy Six Nations 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!
Looking for more Fantasy Rugby insight and Resources?
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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 Six Nations 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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