Wednesday 20 March 2013

Fantasy Super Rugby Review Round 5

It was not a good weekend of rugby. For me personally, all my teams lost, bets lost and a poor fantasy week.

Nevertheless, I was treated to some entertaining Super Rugby in Round 5.

The New Zealand conference is providing 5 of the most entertaining teams to watch, and the NZ derbies are a sight to behold. The 19-23 game between the Highlanders and the Hurricanes proved no different.

Hosea Gear has started the season strongly, along with his wing partner Kade Poki, but the Highlanders haven't won a game yet, and the rest of the team needs to shape up.

The Cheetahs upset the Waratahs in a one point game in Sydney 27-26 making it 2 wins from 3 on tour. However news that Johan Goosen is out for the season might derail their campaign again.



The Cheifs showed the rest of the competition how to break down the Kings, scoring 4 tries, with Lelia Masaga nabbing a hat-trick. The Kings for their part kept in touch and didn't disgrace themselves going down 35-24. However, the Kings are in trouble over the number of foreign players they used during that game.

The Crusaders finally turned it on for the visit of the Bulls, dismantling them and recording a 41-19. Dan Carter seems to be back, and Robbie Fruean's try midway through the first half proved the turning point in the game, and perhaps in their season.


The Reds were crushed by the Force, 19-12, despite the welcome return of Will Genia. The Reds were very poor, and Sias Ebersohn showed why he is considered one of the signings of the season.

And on to Fantasy.

Gear and Masaga were the highest scoring players in Round 5, with Alby Mathewson showing that scrumhalves can actually contribute to a decent points total. The Dream Team from round 5 has a lot of new faces, and seems to show the nature of how inconsistent some players are. 

Looking to the overall dream team, after a few weeks of play, the extra week that the Australian franchises have had aren't as prominent. 

Kade Poki has shown how impressive he has been in a struggling Highlanders team, Charles Piatau points total confirms how well his season has been, and the same can be said for Jesse Mogg.

James O'Connor and Ben Tapuai are streets ahead of other inside backs, with Sarel Pretorius, a try scoring scrum-half, coming to the fore at 9.

In the back row, tough tackling Pieter Labuschagne has been the highest scoring player, with turnover kings Liam Gill and Sam Cane just behind.

James Slipper and Ged Robinson keep their places through the huge amount of tackles and runs they go through in games.

In the "SuperIrish" league, the lead has changed hands for the third week in a row. 

Pre-tournament favourite Cillian Hogan and Poseidon's Belvedere topped this round 5 with 358, which was enough for him to take a narrow 20 point lead. Shrewd transfers have framed his team with 9 players contributing over 25 points, and most of those over 30.

Ronan Murphy produced his best round of the tournament, with 299 and this brings everyone over the 1,000 mark. Only 748 points separate first and last, and with a head to head league to be introduced in the next two weeks, there is all to play for.

There remains less than 40 points between 1st and 4th, which promises to excite for the rest of the competition, with Murray Kinsella, Simon Farrell and Peter Corley trying to catch up to the top 4.

Unfortunately, the twitter "celebs" have started running away with the competition, with Kafer, Cannon, Sharpey and Horan all ahead of the super Irish, and Kafer with a commanding lead.

The rest of the celebrities are there to be taken though, especially Phil Kearns, who is flirting with last place.

Things are hotting up, with serious wildcard decisions to be made, as it gets more and more inviting each week, with each transfer mistake and upsetting fixture list.

Planning is important from this point on.

Any new followers who have a team in the fantasy league should give me a buzz and we'll get you to join the league. As mentioned before, there will be at least one new head to head league starting in the next 2 weeks, so invite as many as possible.

Finally, a shout out to Garbhan Hogan, who snapped his ankle in much the same way as the French referee did. A haul of 336 probably won't cheer you up. Get well soon buddy.



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