NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby / Super Rugby

Fantasy Rugby: The improbable dream XV

Cameron McMillan
By Cameron McMillan
Deputy Head of Sport·NZ Herald·
11 Apr, 2013 05:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Chiefs loosie Sam Cane has benefited from being in a winning team but comes in 30 points adrift of Pieter Labuschagne (Cheetahs). Photo / Getty Images

Chiefs loosie Sam Cane has benefited from being in a winning team but comes in 30 points adrift of Pieter Labuschagne (Cheetahs). Photo / Getty Images

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Seven rounds in, Cameron McMillan lists the Herald Fantasy competition's top team.

The dream team is also known as the "Shoulda, coulda, woulda XV". If you had picked these 15 players from round one and not made any transfers you'd be leading the competition.

Front rowers
Ged Robinson (Rebels) $3.34m, 90 points (seven matches)

James Slipper (Reds), $4.30m, 83 points (seven matches)

Arno Botha (Bulls), $3.83m, 76 points (five matches)

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Robinson's numbers rely heavily on two big performances in week one (30 points) and in the last round (20) - both against the Force - but he still remains the top scoring front rower.

Most popular front rowers - Owen Franks (51), Ben Franks (67) and Wyatt Crockett (74).

Second rowers
Francois Uys (Cheetahs) $3.31m, 102 points (seven matches)

Hugh Pyle (Rebels) $3.70m, 90 points (seven matches)

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

After a quiet start to the season Uys has had a strong run in the last five matches with a high tackle count taking him past the century mark. His season high so far is a 26-point effort against the Highlanders.

Most popular second rowers - Sam Whitelock (72) , Brad Thorn (40)

Back rowers
Pieter Labuschagne (Cheetahs) $3.93m, 158 points (seven matches)

Sam Cane (Chiefs), $5.83m, 128 points (six matches)

Discover more

Sport|rugby

Fantasy Rugby update: Week four

12 Mar 07:23 PM
Sport|rugby

Fantasy Rugby: Lambie offers easy points

14 Mar 04:30 PM
NRL

NRL Fantasy: Smith leads the way

18 Mar 10:30 PM
Super Rugby

Fantasy Rugby update: Masaga's big week

19 Mar 10:11 PM

Matt Todd (Crusaders) $5.77m, 116 points (six matches)

Labuschagne continues to lead all scorers through the opening seven rounds, 30 points clear of the next best in Cane. Despite having scored just one try he gets most of his points from tackles and Cheetahs victories.

It helps to be in a winning side which both Cane and Todd have benefited from as well as tackling their hearts out for their respective teams.

Most popular back rowers - Cane (128), Liam Messam (101), Kieran Read (61)

Halfback
Sarel Pretorius (Cheetahs) $5.51m, 77 points (seven matches)

After a slow start, including -1 in round two against the Chiefs, Pretorius bounced back with a 31 points, two try match against the Highlanders. He hasn't reached those heights again but has been consistent much like his Cheetahs teammates.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Most popular halfback - Pretorius

First five
Patrick Lambie (Sharks) $8.81m, 123 points (six matches)

Despite a surprising two-point performance in a 64-7 thrashing of the Rebels a fortnight ago. Lambie has been the in-form first five thanks largely to his boot. The Springbok has missed five kicks all season, kicking at 85 per cent.

Most popular first five - Dan Carter (82)

Backs
Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs) $8.40, 121 points (seven matches)

Joe Pietersen (Stormers) $9.30m, 94 points (six matches)

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ben Tapuai (Reds) $9.22m, 93 points (seven matches)

Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs) $9.80m, 91 points (five matches)

Conrad Smith (Hurricanes) $9.20m, 88 points (six matches)

Ebersohn has been the surprise package of the season so far following back-to-back 30-point performances against the Highlanders and Waratahs. Pietersen's best so far was an impressive 41-point game against the Chiefs while Tapuai's double against the Waratahs in round two saw him almost pass the 30-point mark. Nanai-Williams stands out having played two less games than rival backs.

Most popular backs - Rene Ranger (76), Israel Dagg (30), Conrad Smith (88) Nanai-Williams (91), Julian Savea (80)

With those 15 players in the opening seven weeks of the competition you would have scored 1688 points (with Pieter Labuschagne as captain each week) and still have $750,000 left in the budget.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Super Rugby

Super Rugby

Moana Pasifika’s owners 'strongly reject' misuse of public funding claims amid probe

28 Jun 04:55 AM
Super Rugby

'So much life in me': Hurricanes player's partner has 'rare and aggressive' cancer

27 Jun 12:25 AM
Super Rugby

Super Rugby Pacific sees viewership increase

25 Jun 08:25 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Super Rugby

Moana Pasifika’s owners 'strongly reject' misuse of public funding claims amid probe

Moana Pasifika’s owners 'strongly reject' misuse of public funding claims amid probe

28 Jun 04:55 AM

An independent review will look at 'serious' allegations of misusing taxpayer funds.

'So much life in me': Hurricanes player's partner has 'rare and aggressive' cancer

'So much life in me': Hurricanes player's partner has 'rare and aggressive' cancer

27 Jun 12:25 AM
Super Rugby Pacific sees viewership increase

Super Rugby Pacific sees viewership increase

25 Jun 08:25 PM
Premium
Moana Pasifika's future in doubt as key funding contracts end

Moana Pasifika's future in doubt as key funding contracts end

25 Jun 05:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP