Leading from the front
The top scorers in both Fantasy Rugby Draft and The Rugby Magazine‘s games this weekend were both front rowers (Saracens Front Row in FRD and Vincent Koch and Alex Waller taking top 2 in TRM). In fact with TRM awarding 1 point for every metre gained by a starting prop, you will get some hauls from ball carrying props (in fact based on this week’s evidence, they will be very strong captain candidates), so keep an eye on the likes of Koch, Waller as well as the likes of Genge, Sinckler and Mako. This as well as the revitalised Ackermann inspired Gloucester, which brings us on to…
The Ackermann Effect
Johan Ackermann’s free flowing Lions were legendary in fantasy terms in Super Rugby, and the early signs are that he is already making a dramatic impact at Glaws. It doesn’t get more dramatic than knocking the reigning champs off their perch on opening night! Most interestingly in fantasy terms was his use of the front five being used as first and second receivers, and being used as attacking threats of the back of set pieces…
Gloucester set up like this from a lineout just outside their 22, three minutes into the season. Ackermania: https://t.co/YDD6NHyMOJ pic.twitter.com/ElJsFkjFty
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) September 4, 2017
Based on this showing you will be seeing some serious attacking returns from the tight five over the course of the season. Jeremy Thrush being the first of these examples with a brace on Friday night.
Saracens soaring & no more whipping boys
The likes of Schalk Brits, Duncan Taylor, Sean Maitland, Jackson Wray, Vincent Koch and Alex Lozowski were in imperious form on Saturday, all of whom are not guaranteed starters and if this is what Saracens can do without some of the big guns in Vunipola x 2, Farrell, Liam Williams and Jamie George all out of the team, then the signs for the rest of the Premiership are very gloomy indeed. Northampton were on the receiving end this weekend but they rallied in the second half and will get stronger as some of their big names return. In fact observing this weekend, unlike previous seasons, there seems to be no obvious whipping boys in the league this season, even the bookies favourites for the drop this season, London Irish, completely dispelled this opinion. Coach Nick Kennedy made a big point in his pre-match comments that they were allegedly focused only on their defence throughout the summer, but through their set-piece and goal-kicking, Irish’s work in attack was a joy to behold.
Rotation and the blooding of youngsters
If anything came abundantly clear on Friday afternoon as the Fantasy Rugby Draft free agent market went into overdrive, it is that rotation in the Aviva Premiership is more rife than ever, particularly after such a significant summer of international rugby. If you can find some regular starters, pick them up and keep hold of them as their consistency will be absolutely critical in this year’s fantasy games. This rotation will also see a greater opportunity for new faces to break through this season. Marcus Smith showed some good touches (and a painful welcome to the Premiership from ex-Quins man Asaeli Tikoirotuma)…
Welcome to the Premiership, Marcus Smith 😳🤕 pic.twitter.com/cOt0k5GZgt
— BT Sport Rugby (@btsportrugby) September 2, 2017
Max Clark picked up on the great potential he showed last season with a clinical attacking performance at Leicester, but the star breakthrough performance over the weekend was Thomas Waldrom’s understudy at Exeter, Sam Simmonds. Simmonds was on fire scoring 2 tries, making a huge 18 carries, beating 5 defenders & making 3 clean breaks, as well as an incredible 14 tackles. On this form Tommy the Tank will have a serious job on his hands to regain the 8 shirt.