Another week in Premiership Rugby, and this is what we learnt…
Predictably Unpredictable
What a season it is proving to be, hard to believe after their comprehensive dismantling at the hands of Saracens in Round 1, that 4 short weeks later Northampton Saints would be topping the table. Wasps, who looked so impressive in tearing apart Sale in Round 1, have now lost three on the bounce, including two games at fortress Ricoh; and just as sides like Exeter and Saracens look imperious at times they have been brought down to earth with a bump.
A simply brilliant and completely unpredictable #AvivaPrem leaves us this with top six ahead of a massive match on @btsportrugby today!! pic.twitter.com/nvOMhh3MXi
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) October 1, 2017
It’s been a gloriously unpredictable and competitive season so far and long may it continue. There are a few factors however that we can rely on at such uncertain times…
Kings-Home
Oh Gloucester, possibly the most unpredictable of all. Looking like world beaters on opening night with talk of “their year” and the “Ackermann Revolution” when taking down the reigning champs and then completely capitulating on Friday night at the AJ Bell. They remain completely unbeaten at home while they’ve yet to register a point on the road all season. Is picking Glaws players for home games only actually a viable fantasy strategy this season?? Only time will tell…
Whipping Boys
While the top of the table remains completely interchangable, it seems that the cast of this season’s relegation dogfight is all but confirmed. Worcester’s season, being played out under the shadow of an impending sale, injury crises, talk of their biggest name leaving and now Gary Gold’s imminent departure, is looking doomed at this early stage.
Today Worcester have announced they are targeting a sale this season, and that Gary Gold leaves in May. London Irish’s survival chances soar.
— paul smith (@PaulSCovTel) October 2, 2017
Their only glint of hope comes from London Irish, whose form since Round 1 has looked ominous, shipping on average 34 points a game since that opening weekend victory. What we now know for sure, is that you should be loading your fantasy team with players playing against these two, week in, week out.
London Irish have allowed the opposition an average of 10.4 entries per match into their 22 this season, the most in the Premiership. Worcester Warriors the only other team to concede at least 10 per match (before today).
— Simon Gleave (@SimonGleave) September 29, 2017
All about the gainz
Even if the season has been far from predictable, with 5 games gone we do now have some reliable data to tap into to see the top performers. Both in Fantasy Rugby Draft and The Rugby Magazine, you are well rewarded for the players making the big metre gains. So this week we take a look at the top metre gainers both in the forwards and the backs…
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