This is our latest instalment 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! 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
It’s been a long time coming but the Heineken Cup is finally back, and from here on in, it is straight knock-out rugby. The bookies are expecting big wins in this first knockout round for for Exeter and Racing.
Literally as I pressed Publish on this for the first time, it was announced that Leinster v Toulon is cancelled. So we are down to 7 matches. Make sure you keep an eye out in case any others fall by the weyside…
The general expectations for the match results from the bookies are as follows…
- Racing to beat Edinburgh by 14 points
- Exeter to beat Lyon by 13 points
- La Rochelle to beat Gloucester by 5 points
- Clermont to beat Wasps by 5 points
- Toulouse to beat Munster by 2 points
- Bordeaux to beat Bristiol by 1 point
- Sale to beat Scarlets by 1 point
Expected to go well on Fantasy Rugby Draft and Superbru
*Players who are starting favourably out of position (i.e. Hooker in back row, Centre on wing, etc.)
Recommended Superbru captain pick in bold
FRONT ROW
- Akker van der Merwe (Sale)
- Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter)
- Camile Chat (Racing)
- Cyril Baille (Toulouse)
- Cedric Gomes Sa (Racing)
- Dave Kilcoyne (Munster)
- Harry Williams (Exeter)
LOCKS
- Jonny Hill (Exeter)
- Tadhg Beirne (Munster)
- Chris Vui (Bristol)*
- Lood De Jager (Sale)
BACK ROW
- Fritz Lee (Clermont)
- Sam Simmonds (Exeter)
- Dylan Cretin (Lyon)
- Jordan Joseph (Racing)
- Thomas Young (Wasps)
- Jacques Vermeulen (Exeter)
SCRUM-HALF
- Artur Retiere (La Rochelle)*
- Maxime Machenaud (Racing)
- Antoine Dupont (Toulouse)
FLY HALF
- Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux)
- Joe Simmonds (Exeter)
- Romain Ntamack (Toulouse)
CENTRES
- Henry Slade (Exeter)
- Virimi Vakatawa (Racing)
- Semi Radradra (Bristol)
- Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Sale)
- Romain Buros (Bordeaux)*
- George Moala (Clermont)
OUTSIDE BACKS
- Kurtley Beale (Racing 92)
- Damian Penaud (Clermont)
- Stuart Hogg (Exeter)
- Kotaro Matsushima (Clermont)
- Charles Piutau (Bristol)
- Teddy Thomas (Racing)
- Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse)
Value Fantasy Rugby Draft Free Agent Pick-ups
Please note that not all of these players may be available as free agents in your leagues, but if they are, then move quickly!
- Alapati Leuia – M – Bristol
- Luke Morahan – OB – Bristol
- George Barton – FH – Gloucester
- Jordan Joseph – LF – Racing
- Johnny Williams – M – Scarlets
- Maxime Medard – OB – Toulouse
- Jonny Gray – L – Exeter
- Jonny Hill – L – Exeter
- Chris Farrell – M – Munster
Come and join the FRG league!
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FRG on the Fantasy Rugby Yanks podcast
ICYMI FRG had the honour of joining Jarrod and Ben, the Fantasy Rugby Yanks, on Episode 100 of #TRFY. We sank some beers and chatted All Time XV’s and the TFRY back story, give it a watch below or download it on all the usual Podcast spots…
Looking for more Fantasy Rugby insight and Resources?
New for the 2019/20 season, we are proud to present the The Fantasy Rugby Handbook. 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 just £3.99 on Gumroad as a PDF and on Amazon in Kindle format (Free on Kindle Unlimited) – check it out!
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