Welcome to our next instalment of our pre-match updates for the final round of the 2018 Natwest Six Nations. This is 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.
What will go down…
The Six Nations has come to its conclusion, and all eyes will be on Twickenham, where Ireland will be looking to record a historic St Patrick’s Day Grand Slam. England are out of sorts, on a two match losing streak, shorn of some of their top talent and facing unquestionably the form team of the tournament. So what could possibly go wrong for Ireland? England at Twickenham, with a point to prove and with last year’s Grand Slam disappointment in Dublin fresh in the mind will not roll over, and the Fantasy Rugby Geek doesn’t believe this will be the foregone conclusion that most are expecting. The bookies agree, unable to separate the two teams, with no handicap advantage to either side. Too close to call.
Italy have found things particularly hard going this year, whilst Scotland, despite a major blip in Cardiff, have impressed. Scotland travel to Rome for the first game of the Saturday triple header and the bookies have given Scotland the win by 17 points which seems fair. Expect that electric Scottish back line to fire!
The final match of the 2018 tournament is an intriguing game in Cardiff between two teams who have both experienced highs and lows throughout the tournament. Neither Wales or France have won on the road this year, and again on this occasion, home advantage should make the difference. The bookies have given Wales the win by 8 points.
Top 10 most likely to score (Odds via Paddy Power)
- 1 Tommy Seymour (Scotland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.67
- 2= Stuart Hogg (Scotland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.91
- 2= Sean Maitland (Scotland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.91
- 2= Huw Jones (Scotland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.91
- 5 George North (Wales) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.3
- 6 Liam Williams (Wales) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.4
- 7 Jacob Stockdale (Ireland) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.7
- 8= Remy Grosso (France) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.8
- 8= Gael Fickou (France) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.8
- 8= Matteo Minozzi (Italy) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.8
Expected to go well
*Players who are starting favourably out of position (i.e. Hooker in back row, Centre on wing, etc.)
FRONT ROW
Ken Owens (Wales)
Fraser Brown (Scotland)
WP Nel (Scotland)
Mako Vunipola (England)
Cian Healy (Ireland)
LOCKS
Jonny Gray (Scotland)
Dean Budd (Italy)
Iain Henderson (Ireland)
BACK ROW
Ryan Wilson (Scotland)
CJ Stander (Ireland)
Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
Justin Tipuric (Wales)
SCRUM-HALF
Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
Gareth Davies (Wales)
FLY HALF
Owen Farrell (England)
Dan Biggar (Wales)
CENTRES
Huw Jones (Scotland)
Hadleigh Parkes (Wales)
Mathieu Bastareud (France)
OUTSIDE BACKS
Tommy Seymour (Scotland)
George North (Wales)
Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Jacob Stockdale (Ireland)
Likely Kickers
Maxime Machenaud (France)
Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
Jonny Sexton (Ireland)
Owen Farrell (England)
Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
Tommaso Allan (Italy
Under-the-radar pick
Gael Fickou – Touted as a wonderkid for many years, Fickou has often shown glimpses of his massive potential but has never really taken on the world as his early backers were hoping. Despite this he’s fit and firing and also finds himself lining up on the wing this weekend, where it is hoped that he will find himself lighting up the scoresheet. Capable of brilliance, let’s see if he can produce more of this again this weekend.
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 Natwest Six Nations fantasy games, all the stats sources, injury news, team news, fantasy relevant rugby betting odds and tons of other useful information.
If you back your Fantasy Rugby skills to lead you to Fantasy Six Nations glory and win you some of this stash while you are at it, then join our Natwest Six Nations leagues on ESPN Scrum and on SuperBru, where a Fantasy Rugby Geek Trucker Hat will be on offer for the winners of each league. This is your last chance to join!
To join the ESPN Scrum league, simply go here, create your team, go to Leagues, select ‘Join League’ and enter the league League Password: 1304606-52973.
To join the Superbru league simply go here, and if you are asked, enter the Pool name Fantasy Rugby Geek and Pool code pegstrap. Good luck!
You have one more chance to join both, so get involved and good luck, the standings after Round 4 for the ESPN and SuperBru leagues are below…
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