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Home / Sport / Rugby / Super Rugby

Fantasy Super Rugby: Where you are going wrong

NZ Herald
24 Apr, 2014 12:33 AM4 mins to read

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Thrush has been one of the most consistent fantasy second rowers in our game this year. Photo / Getty Images

Thrush has been one of the most consistent fantasy second rowers in our game this year. Photo / Getty Images

After ten rounds of Dream Team Fantasy Super Rugby, it seems like the perfect time to point out which players are trending upward and which aren't worth your precious millions in the game.

Front Row

Buy:
Tatafu Polota-Nau, Waratahs
Polota-Nau isn't an elite option in the front row but has a great matchup this coming weekend against the Blues. The Blues are giving up the most 15+ point games to front rowers in the league and Polota-Nau is the Waratahs' highest scorer in that role.
Sell:
Bismarck du Plessis, Sharks
The Springboks hooker is owned by 22% of all Fantasy Super Rugby players yet does not feature in the position's top 20 scorers. There is no question that du Plessis is one of the best front rowers in the game, however in the fantasy world he's definitely not.

Second Row

Buy:
Jeremy Thrush, Hurricanes
Thrush has been one of the most consistent fantasy second rowers in our game this year. He's not a flashy option, doesn't score many tries, but is a busy defender and should give you 10+ points every week if you give him the chance.
Sell:
Sam Whitelock, Crusaders
Last year's standout fantasy second rower is struggling for points, along with the whole Crusaders squad, in 2014. Whatever the reason for this team-wide fantasy slump, Whitelock is far too expensive to be as widely owned as he is.

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Back Row

Buy:
Matt Hodgson, Force
The back row is a position that a lot of fantasy owners seem to be struggling with. Hodgson is currently the number one fantasy back rower in our game but is owned by a meagre 11% of users. Just bear in mind that the Force have the bye next weekend, so it may pay to wait a few weeks to pick him up.
Sell:
Liam Messam, Chiefs
All Black hard man Messam is the most-owned back rower in our game yet just scrapes into the position's top 10 scorers. Forget about his real life reputation and trade him in for someone who costs a lot less and will score more points for your team.

Five Eight

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Buy:
Jacques-Louis Potgeiter, Bulls
The Bulls' five eight is flying well under the fantasy radar after becoming the team's starter in March but is a top five option at five eight.
Sell:
Aaron Cruden, Chiefs
For some reason, Dream Team users haven't quite considered the news flash that Cruden is out of action for another five weeks. Go pick up Potgeiter now.

Halfback

Buy:
Sarel Pretorius, Cheetahs
Two huge performances to start the month of April launched Pretorius to the top of the halfback rankings. While this form may not continue, he's a very cheap option in a volatile and low-scoring position. Be smart, back Sarel.
Sell:
Will Genia, Reds
Another real life star that just doesn't translate into a fantasy performer. If Genia ran a little more he'd have some value but as it stands he's almost strictly a distributor for the Reds and, thus, has very limited value.

Outside Backs

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Buy:
Jason Woodward, Rebels
Woodward has been on fire for the Rebels over the past four rounds and now holds rank as the highest scoring fantasy back in our game. Dream Team users have been slow to jump on board this gravy train - the Rebels have a bye this week but grab him once he's back in action.

Sell:
Israel Dagg, Crusaders
Like Whitelock, Dagg is suffering from the same fantasy malaise that has afflicted all Crusaders players. He's the sixth most-owned back but is outside the top 20 scorers in his position.

This week's injury update:
Tonderai Chavangha, Sharks (out 1-2 weeks)
Flip van der Merwe, Bulls (suspended 3 weeks)
Johan Goosen, Cheetahs (out 1-2 weeks)
John Schwalger, Hurricanes (out for season)
Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Chiefs (out 1-2 weeks)

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    Share this article

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