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Season 5- Weekly Fantasy Corner (Champions Cup Round 1)
29 Plays3 years ago
It's another fun filled episode of the Fantasy Corner from TFRY. This week we are talking Champions Cup FRD! Of course, we take a look back at how things have stacked up to this point in Premiership FRD and the action occurring in Champi-Yanks League D1 and D2. Then we dive into a much longer variation of Start or Sit and much more. Get those notepads and enjoy!
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Ask us questions via Twitter: Jarrod- jdyke8man & Ben- admrablsnackbar, and #AskTFRY.
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Transcript
Intro to 'The Fantasy Europeans'
00:00:02
Speaker
It is The Fantasy Europeans. My name is Jared Dyke. I wanted to say it's stupid and let's move on, but then you kept going. I'm Ben Glauser. I don't like any way anybody gambled that. Collusion. Collusion.
New Rugby Competition Excitement
00:00:27
Speaker
Hey, everybody, welcome back. It is the fancy rugby. Thanks. My name is Jared Dyke. I'm Ben Glauser. Let's do this. It's fancy time. So many goodies to talk about because we're now breaking into a new comp and all the fun stuff. And it's it's a wide open comp. It's so this the points are this is like a. It's the especially with only the six teams per I can't imagine I can't believe it's just that many.
00:00:57
Speaker
Because right. So it's everybody's game. It's anybody's game up until like that round to 16. Right. Kicks in. And even on the still playing teams to dig into. But it's probably a little bit better than.
00:01:11
Speaker
the comp before when you're barely able to scrap together a team from the semi-finals and finalists, which is annoying as hell to say. Oh, no, I'm not complaining. There's much less. The pressure now is not quite. It's just getting the most points because you're going to have your team. It's really your lineup. It's setting your lineup because you're going to have
00:01:41
Speaker
some studs everywhere. No, just making sure you get the ones that score the most that week. Yeah. And that'll be the fun part.
Scoring Benchmarks Discussion
00:01:51
Speaker
Right. That's that. Yeah, exactly. We're going to people are going to score 150 and lose. Yes. Oh, I think I think one. Yes. I know. I think I think 150 is going to be a.
00:02:04
Speaker
Should we have, um, I think one 50 is the 100 now. Like if you don't, if you don't hit one fifth, like if you get over one 50, you, yeah, you can feel good about yourself even if you lose, but if you get under one 50, you expect to lose. Yeah, absolutely. I agree.
Division 1 Match Reviews
00:02:21
Speaker
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's look back at the week that was.
00:02:27
Speaker
In Division one. What's up? There was a week. There was a week. OK. Yeah, the the prime of our day. Oh, right. Yeah. Well, there's that. Yeah. Uh, from our division one. Jesus, how many of those have you had? No, I'm not talking about. Do you know? Do you see the score that I had my. Yeah, I saw the score I put up.
00:02:54
Speaker
Uh, no, I mean, the score of my match. I mean, this is what I'm talking about. I know. I saw it. We're getting there. We're getting there. Um, Mark and, Mark and myself went at it and I was able to come out pretty handily with about 40 point differential, which not mad about, um, just for visa was my top score. 20 points, man. Yeah. You and character were in.
00:03:21
Speaker
We'll call it pillow fight 2.0 because it wasn't as bad as the other one. No, but the point eight point three differential just the same. It's pretty wild. So, yeah, you. Yeah, that back front row almost shafted you, man. They so did. Everybody else did pretty did reasonably well. Oddly enough, though, the people who pooped on me were Freddie Stewart and Andre Esterhasing, who are guys you don't take out of your lineup. So no.
00:03:48
Speaker
Um, yeah, which way it was my best for, yeah. Uh, Janssen Rensberg dropped it. And I mean, his last manager dropped killed him because he got a donut for that. I don't think he had much choice though. Probably not. And what, and what I'm getting card, it didn't help him. No.
00:04:10
Speaker
In the real pillow fight of the week though, Justin beat George with Justin only having three players that started. Oh man, Pietal, Rafal, and Ben Morgan was enough. George had one guy get over 10. Everybody else either get negative or less, like over to EMBO get 12.
00:04:35
Speaker
Oh, yeah. That's a, that's a bad day at the office. That's for sure. That's not good. No, it isn't.
Key Matches & Player Performances
00:04:41
Speaker
And I kind of feel for Cobus, he puts up 80, which were to beat basically anybody, not me or the guy that he played, which was Duncan. Yeah. You went well, you went to get Duncan had the gloss or front row and he had sent you. So that's just going to hurt. Right. That's a smack right in the face. That hurts.
00:05:05
Speaker
uh, Lee table before we go down to division two. I would just like to point out for the record that I said before there, I have it. That's on record that Santa Carreras was a must start. Yeah. And clearly you weren't credible enough. Cause you got, cause they put them on the bench. So what does that say about you? I'm going to tell you, I was a muppet and listen to me. Okay. He's not a muppet. I am the muppet. Let's be real about this.
00:05:32
Speaker
Uh, anyway, standings for division one, uh, Duncan's on top in the first conference. I've got second and also another playoffs, the other playoff spot as well.
00:05:45
Speaker
Carrick and George round out that conference and Mark is on top of his. He's eight and four. He's got the best record in the league. COVID's right behind him. And then you and Justin pulling up the rear, but equal records to me as well. So you both are six and six. So I just happened to have scored a fuckload of points. Yes, you have. You have the most league.
00:06:05
Speaker
No, you're still six and six. It's like, well, because I had a year fucking start. You did. But at the same time, like you still had I remember like kind of breaking your balls because you were you had the most points in the league and you were like you had two wins or something. Right. And it was just I was just getting it's just because that's like it's the luck of the draw, you know, in a lot of ways. But it is. But you keep the point. The point of the whole thing is keep putting up points and the scores will come. Right. There's only three hundred point differential.
00:06:36
Speaker
between the top point score and the lowest point score on the year. Yeah. For through 12 games, that's like 25 points difference a game. That's it. Yeah. I mean, it's not much. It's enough.
00:06:51
Speaker
The whole league is in that range. Right. That's, that's, that's pretty, this is a tough one. It is.
FRD Competition Rankings & Pride
00:06:58
Speaker
It really is. I mean, there's a reason it's what the fourth best in the, in the FRD comp, the fifth best is now division two. We passed them. Oh, is that, that may not have been why I mentioned, oh, no, it definitely was. Take that anyway. Yeah. Let's go to division two anyway. We had.
00:07:20
Speaker
Larry and Franco, Franco almost put up a hundred and that was enough. It was a, it was able to do away with them. Any, any of the new castle front row, imagine what would have happened if he didn't. Um, then we had Stewart and Alex, Alex just running, running into it right now. He, he, he's just on fire right now. Dude's doing well. So good on him for rebounding the way he has.
00:07:48
Speaker
And then we have, yeah, it's, it's how well you manage your team. That's it's all out there for you, especially after these kinds of resets from the internationals. Yeah. Right. He's doing a good job with it. Yeah. Terry and John, John's been stuck with some bad decisions just for the sake of, um, internationals and teams not playing. And then I'll eventually get corrected when we get into the second half of the season, but you just got to take your lumps right now. And yeah, Terry took advantage.
00:08:15
Speaker
And then another squeaker, not as squeaky as you guys, but very, very freaking close. Um, Luke and Sophia, not quite two points were in it. Oh yeah. Two points. Yep. 1.7 was in it. That's it. Wow. Luke, get the job done. Just enough.
00:08:36
Speaker
And, yeah, Luke made it hard on himself by having Lester front row in there after the Van Vech red card. Yeah, that's not good. Yeah. And, you know, it's, it's sad because neither urine nor paledry scored for their teams coming off the bench. Cause urine didn't even play. I don't think he played, he played like two minutes. Yeah. And then paledry barely played as well. Right. So had they gotten like another five minutes, then Sophia probably wins this because she had the two of them on her bench. Yeah.
00:09:04
Speaker
I had year in on my team. I think so. No, I didn't. I had white. I played white, which was smart because wait, was it? I can't remember. Anyway, I don't know if he got me, you know, I'm at the point now though, I'm considering getting rid of, you know, I had Beth front row who shot the bed on me. I am considering like, I'm already no lock. I'm seriously considering going no front row.
Team Management Challenges
00:09:30
Speaker
I think you only have to worry about drastic measures like that for one more week.
00:09:35
Speaker
Yeah, but I know, but I mean, the front rows are, are bad. Like there's, there's some, they're like that's not a better negative 7.6. Right. But that's, that's only their second really shitty score of the year. It's the third, the third negative of the year. Oh, is that their third? They've only scored over 10 points twice. They're not given much and they're given, they're taken away a lot. Like it's not time to good balance.
00:10:05
Speaker
So yeah, you take away those top two, those two, they're two best performances and they're just awful overall. So it's not, it's not looking good, especially in with Stewart out for a long time. Cause, um, Eddie white broke him. It's ready. Jones broke him. Shit. Um, cross between Eddie Jones and Jake white there. Um, again, I've had a few.
00:10:31
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, let's look at the averages for now. Just play this game. Average points per game. So anybody that's averaging nine or over is probably worth it. And they are actually not there. They're at five and a half. So maybe that's not quite it. Newcastle are probably okay.
00:10:52
Speaker
Yeah. Um, Exeter Bristol Gloucester, the rest of the, you know, if you want to make it, you could make a case for Lester after that, like match up dependent. And maybe you're right. After this, it gets a little bit easier because it won't happen. I have so many bench spots that I have that are all, you know, it looks like bias, right? Well, right now it looks like bye.
00:11:11
Speaker
It won't be because the guys that you that you would normally play, but because they're on by can't write. So I'm almost like cutting my front row so I can write. And there could be a flanker or lock or something. And when the one of the year turns, you could make a case to stream front rows where you have the way you go based on matchup, as long as they're not poor ones like North. We know North Hampton and say they're both pretty bad. Yeah, like. But if you have an OK one like a bath and a Lester. Mm hmm.
00:11:41
Speaker
I guarantee you, one of them is going to have a good week more often than not. This week is not a good case because they both had really bad weeks, but you can find a good matchup and more often than not get a good score. So that's just the thoughts for there. Ride out for one more week,
Champions Cup Format & Disappointments
00:11:56
Speaker
folks. We're almost there. Right. Almost there. But we don't have to worry about this week because we are into Champions Cup.
00:12:04
Speaker
We are looking at what's going on and going forward here. So for the champions, so we have two divisions. Those of you that didn't listen to the weekend, also bad news. No super brew. Fancy, lame, super lame. Right. Cause they couldn't get it. Was it, was it the EPCR would didn't want to finance it. Oh, or that. It's like, fuck you guys. What are they doing? Who's making more bad decisions?
00:12:31
Speaker
Right. Yeah. Cause flow rugby was such a great decision for them. Right. How much does it cost you versus how much, and look at the engagement that's been on the, um, the six nations and the women's world. Like that they're significant. Yeah. Right. You can make money off of that. What are you doing? It's right there. Yeah. Yeah. Automations was, was a big one. And obviously six nations, six nations infinity is good.
00:12:58
Speaker
So, uh, as I, as I was trying to say before I went and went squirrel, um, champions cup FRD for, so we only have one division, but we have two conferences. And then we have, so we have myself and George in the skids. It'll also be Luke and Duncan and Cobus and Justin for our division over here.
00:13:22
Speaker
What's yours looking like? And mine, fuck if I can remember names. Um, so, cause I'm not used to seeing that. So I have, I can tell you, um, but Alex is dead ants. You can cover is, um, no, Sophia. That's right. Well, I chose Carrick. Obviously no way fans is Mark and Yippie tri-yay is Stu. Um, yeah. Yeah. So there you go. So who do you have? Who's your matchup? Okay. My matchup this week is, let me do, okay. So that.
00:13:53
Speaker
Sorry, waiting for it to spins. So I'm taking on dead ants. I'm taking on Alex. Nice. I'll get on the good foot from the off this time, hopefully. Although Alex is playing, as of right now, he's starting my sit of the week. So I'm going to take that for what it's worth. Alex is playing, I'm sorry, Mark's playing Stu. And Carrick is playing Sofia. OK. Nice. Nice, nice, nice.
Player Recommendations & Draft Strategy
00:14:24
Speaker
Alright, so we're going to get into our recommendations as we'll call them because it's not quite starter set. No, because there's so many effing matches and we could just bore ourselves to tears with this whole thing, but we will we'll run through each match and just kind of pinpoint out what we believe some players names all that shit.
00:14:46
Speaker
Right. So the way I went about approached the approach this because I always do it weird as Jared can. Yeah. I kind of did it where I'm like, these are the guys who they have to be gone in your league. If they're not gone in your league, then get them because they're probably they deserve to be on 18.
00:15:09
Speaker
And then I had like a sleeper, one who may be good enough to get drafted, but might not be, or may just be sitting there. Or in one case was way too low in the rankings for anybody to notice that he was even there. Right.
00:15:24
Speaker
So, yeah, it's more like, you know, if you see someone, you know, to have a thought about them for the sleeper, other than that, like, that's people who, you know, I've gone around some of these and some of them are just are still out there. So it's like, if you have a question mark, you know, maybe you should have this guy on your team instead of what you got. Yeah, instead of your question mark.
00:15:45
Speaker
Okay, let's go Friday night. I think you got the first one off the bat here. I got the first one with the exiles hosting Montpelier. Yeah. I have them in the final. So kind of goes where, you know, kind of tell you where I'm leaning on this one. And mostly because the Irish, as we were kind of talking about in the pot, they're all right, but they can be had. Yeah.
00:16:13
Speaker
they can very much be had. 100%. So really, they're, you know, but their players, it's now going to be more limited. The guys you want, you don't want all their backs like you would in the prem because of, again, just the overall talent depth that's out there. But still, their front row is maybe going to give them a look because you never know when they turn it around. Maybe they play Ollie Hoskins a little bit more and he gets over like he used to do. And that's always a possibility that stuff like that will happen with them.
00:16:43
Speaker
You know, they might not have them now, but have a look at them. Pearson and Gonzalez, they should be on a team. They score too many points, not two. Right. Benard Janssen, Rensberg just scores points. He's always busy, but doing positive things. And all he has are Collins, because he's probably going to put up a try or two. Like this, he's perfect for this competition. Oh, yeah, he's going to be great. The sleeper to me is Ben Loder.
00:17:08
Speaker
because he's another guy who could go off. But, right, you know, he's one of those guys I think you put on the bubble, you know, because he's he's not like one of the top tier prem guys, but he could be there. So, right. Again, another guy who's who's suited to this competition for Montpellier, Zach Mercer, Carbonell, Rattas, Boutier, Garbisi's been playing a little bit of twelve. I'm not sure how that's going to affect his value.
00:17:34
Speaker
It's a matter of when he's got the tee, really. Right. So that could probably help a lot. The sleeper is is George Bridge, who is in the game. He's way down on the list. So you won't see him until he gets to the very end of the rankings unless you search for him. Right. Check him out. I did. I saw he was there. And like at this point, better. I'd rather have him on my team than someone else because. Oh, yeah. If he's playing. Yes, please. Especially in this matchup.
00:18:02
Speaker
Absolutely. I agree. I agree. I agree. All right. So let's see. Oh, I have, I have the first South Africa team. Yay. Yeah, you do. Okay. So that determine the Celsius sharks. Now the problem with the Celsius sharks is they're having a hard time attacking.
00:18:23
Speaker
Though Quinn's defense is decent, it's not great if there's a good attacking team to take advantage of it. This might not be that team. So the guys I'm going to just say right now, Kerwin Bosch was a good asset once upon a yesterday year in FRD. So he could be someone for them. Jane Hendrickson, also, again, possibility. You know, we saw what his abilities are in the automations here. A little bit.
00:18:48
Speaker
For those that, um, there are very few locks. I would play in this competition. That's a Beth is one of them though. So put him on that list. Maybe Khaleesi for your loose forwards. And then, yeah, I don't think he's really the fantasy type. Yeah. I think I don't, I don't know. That's why I said, that's why I said, maybe, um, midfield, I don't love. Cause it's, I think it's tap white and Janssen been medsberg. So that's a no for me. Um,
00:19:18
Speaker
Mac McPimpy is out wide. So that's one to throw in there. And then I'm trying to get one second. Lost my notes here. There we go. Oh, Fosse. That's the other one that we were talking about. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So those are the ones for them. There's that. Quinn's. It'll be Tommy Allen. So if you're willing to gamble them traveling well, then that's it.
00:19:46
Speaker
Care should be a good pick. Levis, apparently, is he going to be healthy? Okay. Second row. So there's that. Don Brandt, yes. Andre going home. So this could be interesting for Andre Esterhays and going back to South Africa here. And then, how wide? I'm a little merly and that's it.
00:20:09
Speaker
Yeah. I don't want anybody else. Like in terms of who ranks high enough to earn yourself an OB spot of all the other ones that are out there. Yeah. It's, it's merely. So there's that. All right. I don't disagree. Cause yeah, the others are right now. I wouldn't want like Nick David. I would want him to have her prem. I don't know that I'd want him for this comp just yet. And Bassett is, has not that good right now. Unfortunately, that's just how it is.
00:20:39
Speaker
Okay, off to what really should be a final of this competition, not one of the first matches, but Rossing hosting Leinster.
Rossing vs. Leinster Match Preview
00:20:49
Speaker
Oh, I... Oh, baby. Yeah. I'm going to be crouching ahead of this match for a while. Rossing are second in the top 14, Leinster are first in URC, so...
00:21:06
Speaker
Heavyweights going after it. It's going to be fun. Right. For Rossing, you're going to want Finn Russell. I know he doesn't take the kicks, but he's going to have to be playing reckless and loose and finish as he does. Fikyu, Imoph is a big go. And my sleeper for Rossing is Christian Wade, who is a guy who... Super talented.
00:21:34
Speaker
He's talented. He's probably really good for this type of competition. And he's a guy who probably shouldn't be, you know, in the first pass of outside backs and might be one of the guys who's like sitting there towards the end of the of the draft that, you know, you kind of, you know, it's like the
00:21:57
Speaker
last dumpling sitting there and like everybody kind of wants it but nobody really wants to be the person to pick it up um yeah so um yeah but christian he's worth it so i clearly have not had that many dinners with me then right i will be that guy on the other side uh lenster they're fucking pretty much everybody i mean you know the name but they're also
00:22:23
Speaker
quality point scorers and competitions like this. So the front row, definitely. Josh Vanderfleer, this is his kind of competition as far as like he's, he should be one of the first wankers gone anyway. Jameson Gibson Park is criminally underrated on the, uh, on the rankings. So bump him up several slots because he scores a lot as a scrum half. And there aren't many scrum heads that score a lot in this competition. Um,
00:22:48
Speaker
James Lowe, Jimmy O'Brien are must haves. They kind of really are the Conan and Doris who won't be the frontline flankers or loose forward selected. But, you know, too late in the draft, if you want to round out your team, they're good third option, they're bench options. And the centers, Henshaw, Ringrose, if you have one of them, you're probably doing okay. Ringrose more than Henshaw, but yeah.
00:23:14
Speaker
There's no real sleepers here. Cause at this point, you know, you see a Leinster play, you could take him anyway, cause you're going to need him in the round of 16. More than likely. Yeah. More than likely. Yeah. Okay.
Claremont vs. Stormers Player Analysis
00:23:28
Speaker
So I have the other South African team or another South African team, I should say, but they're at Claremont. So stop myself. I'm thinking.
00:23:43
Speaker
Bezzy for Claremont for sure. Pluson, yeah, maybe, but I don't know, they're fly half. Fritz Lee, Yato, yes, if they're in, play him.
00:23:54
Speaker
they've been, they've shown that they're very, very valuable before. We were talking about him on the draft, George Moala, if he's playing, he's scored well when he's played. So I'd give him a thumbs up. Yeah. Out wide, like they have so many options. Penno, Raka, I think Raka is healthy. Newsom. And they still have, but he's still got Delky in there as well. Like, they have options. They have options. So that's,
00:24:22
Speaker
Truly terrifying if you're up there. For the Stormers, so they have Billimpsen and Lebok as fly house, but I think one of them is going to be playing fullback. So there's that option out there. For those of you that are looking for some sort of cheat code or a little extra boost for your points. Hershel Nantes is the scrum half. If he's the Hershel Nantes that we saw once upon a yesteryear, thumbs up. If he's not, then I'm probably not going to go anywhere near him.
00:24:52
Speaker
Um, Lucy's even Bruce. We know we've heard the names several times, uh, and Deon free as well. Those are those names that you can throw out there.
00:25:04
Speaker
Uh, midfield, I know I mentioned it before, but lay who was out there, but I don't believe that's really something that I really want. Dandy pussy, I guess is the, is the name that people are looking at. So if you're really inclined to have one of their centers, that's the name of the game, I guess, but like, meh, not sure that's the one I want. Um, and then out wide.
00:25:30
Speaker
Yeah. So not lie. That's it. I think that's it really. So that's all I got. That's all I got for that one. Sorry for a stormers fans. Sorry. Not sorry. Okay. Off to, uh, oh, King's home. Gloucester. Gloucester our fourth in the pram, Bordeaux eighth in the top 14. Um,
00:25:55
Speaker
This is interesting because I think both are kind of underplaying what the talent level is. And I'm interested to see where how Gloucester play here, but at the same time, I'm not sure how many players I want from them anyway, like the front row is kind of a must have because they just they're all powerful. It's going to be hard for other teams to stop.
00:26:18
Speaker
You know, even without singles that they still have a pretty good stable hookers to get them through this. So, um, Chris Harris is, is kind of on the bubble, but he should be drafted in your league. Uh, Cindy Carreras and, um, and, and Lou's re Sam it now, Cindy Carreras is. I drafted him. So I should know that he's a midfielder in this.
00:26:41
Speaker
Yeah, very interesting. When you had said that, I was like, it sounds off, but I also believe you because I don't get it, but he's on my team as a midfielder. So I will, yeah, I'll take it. There's not going to complain. There's ways to go with that one. Right.
00:26:55
Speaker
Um, so yeah, that's why he's, that's really why he's worth it. Certainly a midfielder. Um, the sleeper for them is Jake Piledry because you're not sure if he's going to be injured or not at this point. You know, we talked about how he didn't really play. Um, don't get that. The other one is Adam Hastings. If he's healthy, um, and Carreras plays at wing, um,
00:27:18
Speaker
Like that's the funny thing again. I think we talked about this last week. If Hastings is playing, that doesn't actually affect Carreras' value because he's going to still get his points either way out, you know, out wide too. But at the same time, if Hastings is playing, then he could be valuable in a backup role or a spot start, depending on who you've got and who the opponent is. Yeah, obviously depending.
00:27:42
Speaker
Right, but also be wary of the Gloucester players because they're playing length or matches or rounds two and three. So you're not going to play any of them in rounds two or three. So it's really like a could be a one week rental. Yeah, almost literally. On Bordeaux side, Luku, Jollibear, another one we talked about during the draft a lot, Moifana, Santi Cordero are the the big names. Sleeper to me, is Tom Willis potentially?
00:28:12
Speaker
Um, and then if O'Gray is playing, if he's with the, if he, if they pull him, you know, into the front row, that could, but he's playing in the back row there. I'm sorry. Gabriel is playing for lesser. Is he? Yes. Oh, all right. I just saw a thing that was, when I was looking at this, I saw a thing where he had signed with, um, that's news to me because we, I think he was, he was on the bench yesterday or the other week for them. Yeah. I thought he was on the side. I didn't think he was on the bench.
00:28:42
Speaker
No, he's on the things on the sideline. But yeah, I don't think it was. I don't think he's there. So he is. OK, but yeah, I don't think he's there. I think he's think he's found employment elsewhere. Oh, no, they did. OK, they know they did sign him. And what the fuck was that? Oh, whatever. I don't know. What were you looking at? I don't know. You can't believe which the read on the Internet. I have other problems. We'll get to that later. These are more official, though. So now I'm really pissed about that. Yeah, we'll get to that.
00:29:10
Speaker
Your browser screwed you, man. I was sober when I did this. I don't have the answer for that one, dude. Yeah, me neither. But either way, Willis is there, right? Yes. Yeah, that one you're on. That one. Yeah.
Bulls vs. Leon Key Players to Watch
00:29:28
Speaker
OK. Oh, you're on. You're good to go. Fine. I'll stick with that. We'll write that. All right. And then I have.
00:29:39
Speaker
It's our last South African team. Hooray. So the Bulls have have played.
00:29:47
Speaker
Chris Smith and Houston. I think Houston's going to be the guy they go to. So if you're inclined to take one of them, that's the guy. I hope so, because that's the guy I took. There you go. Bull's front row's a thumbs up for me. I don't think I said the Sharks earlier. The Sharks' front row's also a thumbs up, because that's Imbanambi and Ox. So that's a thumbs up for me. Zach Berger's been there guy for half back. That's a TBD. Don't know.
00:30:13
Speaker
Back row, assuming Vince Dodden and Cozzi are all are healthy. They're the guy, if you're hot after one of them, maybe Brink. Not convinced of the midfield quite yet. I know currently are and so is obviously a huge name. And then that's probably that's probably all I do right now without knowing a ton more for their sake.
00:30:40
Speaker
On the other side, Leon also, this actually might, it's going to really tell us which team can and can't play in this competition because Leon might be a Civ and they might not be, I don't know. Another way around could be possibility as well. For Leon, Kuyu is in there.
00:31:00
Speaker
Tafu Fanua is one of the few locks I would play in this competition. He's in there. I think Tafu was employed by Leon. That's a possibility for those of you looking for a loose forward. He's out there, not super interested in the midfielders. Niniashvili seems to be the one that everybody's kind of going for for an OB for Leon. So that's also, yeah, I would throw out there for those that are looking for somebody to play for this match.
00:31:32
Speaker
Okay. Off to LaRochelle hosting Northampton. So LaRochelle are fourth and top 14 Northampton are sixth. The thing to remember, as I said, in the other pod is that the Saints have zero defense whatsoever. So defense optional.
00:31:54
Speaker
Right. So their opponents and hold on me, pull up my spreadsheets again. The Saints are playing La Rochelle. They're playing monster. So really factor that in. I think I get to it later, the monster that you really want guys who consider them more for weeks two and three, rounds two and three. But that means for the La Rochelle players.
00:32:16
Speaker
Week one is a very good week for them. Although they also have an ulster coming up and I think they're equally kind of softish. So they could be had. Anyway, La Rochelle, the front row. Yes. Will Skelton. Yes. Like he will be one of the first locks selected likely. Probably a top five. Right. Should be. So if you want him, snag him before he gets picked.
00:32:43
Speaker
Yeah, he'll be in your, he's worth selecting. Aldri, also very much worth selecting. Like, and then basically, Curb Barlow on out, especially for this match. The problem is, who the hell, they can't get them all in the field. So you're kind of at a flip of a coin, whether it's like, you know, it's rule playing, it's Teddy Tomah playing, Doolan, Lades, like, there's so many different options. Doolan's been the most consistent with them, I think, in terms of who's played the most. Right. Well,
00:33:12
Speaker
There's one other that I think but I fucking can't tell. So we'll talk about them in a second. I'm very confused by it. Anyway, on the same side, Augustus Mitchell Dingall should be there because there's not many
00:33:31
Speaker
centers, there's only a limited number of centers. He should be drafted somewhere. If he's not a starter, he should definitely be worth having a reserve. Certainly one of the top 18, I think, centers in the comp, midfielders in this, for a fantasy. And then Freeman needs, again, same kind of thing. Yeah.
00:33:51
Speaker
He's worth it. Sleepers for Northampton are Hutchinson, who fucking rocks this competition. And you can kind of take him or leave him again, because he might he's kind of a bubbler. But again, if you have a question mark, go with Hutch, because he will score you points in this comp and slight home and Collins, because they probably won't be there. But if you kind of don't like your options come game day, look for them as options on the waiver wire.
00:34:21
Speaker
Yes, yes. All right. Over to cast and Exeter. So I kind of have cast in this competition as a team that kind of throws it away much like Montpelier used to do. So I'm really unsure what to expect from their lineup. Overall, there's not much I'm going to take away from this from them. Ben Baudica is a possibility origin. I don't care. Like if you're hot, if you're desperate for a fly out, that's a possibility.
00:34:51
Speaker
Our old friend, Tyler Audran has been playing number eight for them and he says a lock. So that's another one that's going to go up there. Can't speak to the loose forwards. Jeez. Yeah. Like this is the few teams I've really struggled to find the names that I know and or names that I'm like really into. Um,
00:35:21
Speaker
But yeah, that's pretty much the most that I can get into for that, especially since the stats are so hard to read. I wish I could read French, but I can't. Yeah. Oh, see, that's again, we'll get. Yes, I have. I have bones to pick. Right. So on that, though, assuming.
00:35:43
Speaker
what I said is true, or at least somewhat true, where they may not put out their strongest lineup. Makes Exeter players attractive, at least. Simmons is almost always a go for them anyway. Their front row, as much as I am annoyed by many of them, yes. Sam Simmons, duh. And then, yeah, maybe, maybe in their business.
00:36:07
Speaker
Yeah, right. Maybe Slade at the midfield if you're looking. Again, I don't think he's got that much value in fantasy. But remember, what we're going on the premises here is that cast are not going to put together the strongest team. Yeah, I just don't see...
00:36:31
Speaker
I don't see Slade as the attacking type, but he will get over every so often. So yeah, that's true. If he's ever gonna get over in this competition, this is the match. So there's that. And then the back three, Woodburn's been good this year. So I'll give him a thumbs up. Yes. And I am praying to the Ruby gods above that Josh Hodge is playing, because this could be fun to watch him loose in this comp. They're really good. Please, please, please, please. And thank you.
00:37:03
Speaker
Okay, off to the AJ Bell, which on Sunday, oh, this is going to be fucking slog. So, Sailor, Second in the Prem, Ulster, Fourth in URC. And really for sale, there's three players that I have, the JLDP,
00:37:28
Speaker
DDP and Tom Roebuck are the ones that really need to be on a roster somewhere. The sleepers to me are Rob Dupree. Because again, I think he could score some points in this match. But then also the front row. Yeah. On the Ulster side, their front row, yes, should start. Ian Henderson, big go.
00:37:55
Speaker
I think he's locked, but again, one of those locks who plays at six and plays it well. Yeah, he's one of the few I'm willing to give a thumbs up to. Kind of like a free lock, a free flanker at a locked position. Kind of nice. John Cooney at nine, James Hume in the midfield, Valakoun, Sockdale Lowry in the outside bags, of course. The sleeper for this is Luke Marshall, who has had
00:38:22
Speaker
quite a decent year in terms of like, you know, the breaks, not so much meters run. He's not so high on that, but he beats defenders and gets a couple of clean breaks now and then. So, certainly someone who I considered picking up until I will get to my pickup in a little bit. About that. We'll talk about that. About that. All right. Woohoo! Saris and Edward on Sunday.
00:38:53
Speaker
series do have a decent record against Scratch team. So we'll start with that. It's not to say it's going to be a given, but they should do well. Fail if you, I think you, as long as you got over whatever was alien and the last, those last two auditions games, series front row. Yes. Should be fine.
00:39:12
Speaker
Van Zail might come back to what he was doing before. We'll see. You know, he's just going to make life miserable for Edinburgh. Let's go, Matt, for anyway. Itoge, again, one of the few locks you're going to play. Earl and Theo are my highest furloughs forward on the series, for sure. Tomo over anybody else for midfield and for the series, without a doubt.
00:39:39
Speaker
Maybe good if he ends up stepping into 10. And that's probably the most I would venture for for O.B.'s on series. Maybe, Lewington, if this turns into a track meet. Yeah, but still, he's nothing. Like, I would be betting on the dailies and the mail-ins is to be... Yeah, that was a midfielder, right? I think so. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, that would probably be another one to go with midfield. Sorry, I skimmed over that. That's okay.
00:40:07
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, yeah. Cause he's been playing a lot of wings. So give him a thumbs up at midfield as well. Um, for Edinburgh, King words listed as a fly app. So guess what? If you want to play him, that's where he is. Although I think he's about, if he hurt, uh, he played last week at that, but unless he came out, I'm not something of something else. Yeah. I was pretty sure he played last week. I thought I saw something about him being hurt. Unless I'm
00:40:34
Speaker
Again, I go to dodgy sites. Um, nevermind. Give me, give me out of this. Didn't we talk about this already? Uh, Sam Skinner, if he's healthy, I think he's hurt, still hurt. So probably not for a lock. Um,
00:40:51
Speaker
Richie and Mata are the big ones for me. I think big Billy's, what did he play last week? Yes. Yes, he did. Yeah, he did. So yeah, Jamie Richie and Billy Mata are the big ones. Bennett, if you really need a midfielder from Edinburgh, but Duhan returns. So all those of you that are all excited about using Duhan, yes, you can use him. And then
00:41:16
Speaker
Yeah. It's Darcy Graham. That's her. That's where I got that confused. Did he get injured last week? Yeah. He's out until February. Ouch. All right. So there's that, but there's also, um, buffelli and best loosen our old friend from the hurricanes. So there's that as well.
00:41:36
Speaker
All right, sorry, I was I was checking on that because I was like, no, somebody from some of the members heard the camera. Hey, listen, I'm glad you checked. Yeah, because I would have said something stupid. I'll leave that to me, please. Let's be real. We're we share that we share the burden on that one. It's true. Monster versus Toulouse. Monster, our eighth in the URC to lose our first and top 14. That's kind of saying something.
00:42:02
Speaker
Again, monster players really only consider them for rounds two and three when they play Saints. But then on the other side to lose players are going against monster and sale. So I'm not exactly comfortable in that their prospects so like that they, you know, they could
00:42:18
Speaker
sweep this, but fantasy wise would maybe not be the players you want. For Munster, again, not so much for this week, but absolutely for following weeks. Tagburn, Jack O'Donohue, Devin Coombs, Joey Carbury, the sleepers for them really are Conway, Zebo, Freesh. Freesh is actually having a good season. Yeah, I've heard. So people are saying, but
00:42:45
Speaker
Yeah. So there, but again, they should not be, you know, as much as we love Conway and Zebo and free, they probably should not be on a roster. They're like break glass in case you have like five people drop right before the matching at nobody else pick up, pick up one of them and throw them in. That'll be, you'll be okay. But other than that, um,
00:43:06
Speaker
but to lose the front row. Yes. Jean launch, do Paul into Mac Ramos, um, Capuoso and John Minae are worth a pick, but rate them a few tears lower than you would expect based on the opposition. Again, like, yeah, it's going to be rough. Um, a couple of drag there for monster. Yeah. Do you go into monster and sale and to lose are going to go for it. So they're going to play the tough, they're, they're big guys and, you know, sale like being assholes and monster like being assholes. So it's going to be a.
00:43:37
Speaker
They're going to get asshole happen. So they, and they might win, but they're not going to, you know, they're not going to put up like, like DuPont is not an easy first round pick in this company anymore. It's more like third round, right? Drop everybody around or two from them. Yeah. Just with the match-ups and stuff. For sure. He's healthy again though, isn't he? Okay. Good to know.
00:44:03
Speaker
Good to know. Yeah, look, I think you played last week, so. Oh, OK. Sounds good to me. All right. And then the one everyone's been waiting for, Osprey's and Lester. Oh, man. It's going to be thrilling. Yeah. So because of the opposition, it makes a few Tigers intriguing, at least. Osprey, I'll start with the Osprey's because it's a little easier.
00:44:30
Speaker
Really not into a whole lot of what they got going on. Fly half, halfback lock, front row pass. Loose forward, Jack Morgan. But that's like your beacon of light right there. Midfield. Yeah, not loving it. And then, so one name I want to check out there that was actually kind of a popular pick last year when we were doing Superbrew was Prothro.
00:44:55
Speaker
Total shot in the dark on that one. That's not necessarily like yeah, put them in you're starting one up and don't forget it That's that might not right. No, no, no But so for Lester these are names that are probably gonna be more apt To be in a lineup than not because of the opposition pretty burns. Yes Maybe the Chuck Charlie in there. Let's start them Either halfback is fine for this one. Definitely the Tigers front row. I
00:45:23
Speaker
George Martin at lock again, who we usually play sick six and he usually score as well. So especially as a lock. So thumbs up to him. Jasper is a definitive go and yeah, I don't love the others. Uh, Porter. Yes. And then hopefully we see the attacking Freddy Stewart if he plays fullback. So I would, and I think Watson could get loose. So I think that's, that's one thing to keep in mind for this one as well. He always might.
00:45:52
Speaker
Yeah, it's always a possibility. This is, this is a matchup that you could take advantage of very easily, very, very easily. Okay. Here it goes. Of the weeks. Right. Mm hmm. Oh, T-dubs. Oh, T-dubs. So this is where my annoyance with the rugby.
00:46:23
Speaker
you know, the internets are fucking annoying. So do you mind if I take this for a second? I'm looking at the top 14 website. I'm trying to figure, you know, I'm looking at it. I looked at it on two computers, one, my workplace computer, which doesn't automatically translate. And then I looked at it on my Mac, which did translate. And I got the same information on both, but I can't really verify it. Jules Farf.
00:46:51
Speaker
for La Rochelle. It's telling me that he leads, he is tied with Baptiste Kuyu of Lyon for the most tries in top 14 this year with seven.
00:47:05
Speaker
That's what that's telling me. Now I couldn't, I went through La Rochelle's matches. I didn't really see him that much, but so I don't know what the fuck it's telling, but I'm going with that. And I'm saying La Rochelle playing against Northampton. If this guy's playing 12, Matt, you know, he's, he's played in every match and he's scored seven tries. I mean, and I couldn't, there certainly wasn't any, any bats where he scored like five tries as far as I could tell, like,
00:47:34
Speaker
Yeah, I'm saying that he's my star, assuming he plays. And not only that, but allegedly he's a wing. But in the game, in the competition, he's a midfielder. So again, midfielder points at wing. If he's scoring that many tries, I'm going to play him against Northampton.
00:47:51
Speaker
That said, if that's all bullshit, I'm sorry. I like this so much that I picked Jules. I'm like putting my money where my mouth is here. Cause I was doing this research and I'm like, no, okay. If that's true, then I'm taking him and I brought him into my team and I'm planning on starting in myself. So I am putting again money where my mouth is on it. Um, if that fails, then it's whoever, as you mentioned it, whoever's 10 at Lester versus Osprey's, they'll do very well and they're available. Yep. I agree.
00:48:22
Speaker
I agree. All right. I'm really annoyed at the top 14. I thought I was annoyed with the pram website, but it makes a lot more sense than fucking. Well, that's only because we can't understand French is a difference. Potentially, or it has bad information. I don't know. I can't tell. It's not the latter because I'd be right. That's what I'm nervous about. So anyway, give me the best information I have. If it's wrong, then I'm sorry. It's what's on the Internet. It's what the interwebs tells me.
00:48:51
Speaker
So I have got a guy that's going to come back to some familiar ground and he's red hot. He's got an extra grind still. And he's playing a team that's been kind of poo. So my start of the week is going to be Zach Mercer. Who? Never heard of the guy. Mr. Zach.
00:49:20
Speaker
Fuck you, Eddie Mercer. Yeah, that's, I, yeah, I like that. No, there'll be obviously Montpellier is my, one of my teams. Yeah. Just play everybody. And I actually, they mentioned Zach Mercer. So there you go. Yeah. Big one for me. I think he's going to have a day. So many plays. So many plays. So the week sits, um,
00:49:47
Speaker
Mostly because they've already played him once this year in club rugby and shut him down fairly easily. And I think he's playing on a worse team now. Um, do you hunt van der Merwe? Sit him. Uh, okay. Yeah. Yep. Yep. No, I mean, yes and no.
00:50:11
Speaker
I mean, no sir, but series haven't played played didn't play Western this year. Didn't they? I thought they did play. I thought I could have sworn I see. OK, then I must be did not draw them. I'm smoking the crackage. Yeah, that's right. Whatever. But they do shut down. Either way, they're shutting down wings and there's no opposite wing.
00:50:28
Speaker
worth a shit. Yeah, not well, it could be a fairly that could be fun. We'll find out that could be. We'll find out anyway. Yeah, I think the failure will be. I don't know. I think he'll play fullback and we get all the points for for the outside backs from Edinburgh. Yeah. Possibility there. All right. So mine is a guy returning to the scene of a crime, at least in some people's opinions, going back to court. And I think they're going to be
00:50:58
Speaker
They have a point to prove, even if they're not doing well in their, in their league, they usually crank it up a notch for this comp. So, um, my sailor week's going to be reminded to Mac. Yeah. I obviously agree with that as I ranked all of the, all the tools players lower. Yeah. I just, it's going to be tough, a tough old spot. I mean, that wasn't a pretty game to begin with last year anyway. So it was entertaining as hell, but in terms of, you know,
00:51:27
Speaker
Where you could dig out points from that man beats you shoot at me, you know So nope pass All right, pick them let me out of here wow All right. All right, let me ask my play. I'm not probably a Celsius sharks and Quinn's Go with Quinn's. Yeah, I'm gonna go with Quinn's but I'm also wondering what the hell so she's gonna bring to this thing. So I
00:51:54
Speaker
Well, I'm wondering what Harlequins are going to bring. Like I wonder if Harlequins are like, I don't know how they're going to approach this. Right. We'll see. Rossing and Leinster. I'm just going to go home team on this one. Yeah. Rossing. Yeah. It should be a fairly tight matchup. Claremont and Stormers. South African team traveling is not fun. I'm taking Claremont.
00:52:16
Speaker
I'm actually taking the Stormers because I think Claremont are kind of just pooping the bed on this one. But they do. They generally play. They love this competition. They love this competition. I'm taking the Stormers anyway. That's right. Gloucester and Bordeaux. I'm taking Gloucester. Yeah. Yeah. I think that they're.
00:52:38
Speaker
They're tougher defensively. I think they're, they've been like, again, I think the last couple of matches are not indicative of where Gloucester are. I still think, I mean, they're still top four, if I'm not mistaken. Five, I think, but yeah, no, they're tough. They're four other four. Okay. So they're, they're two points ahead of Lester and saints. Um,
00:53:01
Speaker
According to the prem website, which we know how dodgy that can be. Throw that out there. I'm looking at it right now. This is what the prem website is actually saying right now. They're not bad. Like, I think that, you know, they're top four and they're not playing their best. I thought last week was a step forward. I think they're going to be better. And I think they're going to be gunning for...
00:53:27
Speaker
There's been a lot of embarrassment in this competition from English rugby. And I kind of feel like. I hope they all step up with the exception. Yeah. Someone's got to step up because it's not going to be, you know, who knows if it's going to be Harlequin's Exeter ripe for fucking themselves over sale. I think are not as, I don't think they're as good as their record in the prem and Lester. I'm not sure if they're capable of playing the style that they need to play to win in this competition.
00:53:55
Speaker
So it's really, it's Gloucester and Harlequin and other than Saris. And I'm hoping one of them steps up. Bulls and Leon. I'm taking the Bulls. Me too. La Rochelle, North Hampton. Defending champions. La Rochelle. Yes. La Rochelle. Cast and Exeter. Like I said, I don't know if Cast is going to really take this, this competition seriously. So I'm taking that. See, that's where I went. Yeah. I'm taking Exeter as well. Yeah.
00:54:27
Speaker
Uh, sale and Ulster. It's only because it's at the AJ Bell. I'm not taking sale. I'm taking Ulster. Yeah. Because as I looked at it, I'm like, I, you know, yeah, the AJ Bell.
00:54:41
Speaker
I feel like the A.J. Bell can't scare the Irish team. I don't think it's going to matter much. I mean, I would like to think so, but you never know. You never know. That's just that's where I'm seeing it. I think Alistair have the attitude and the talent. Right. To win over sale there. It's not easy. Yeah, series and Edinburgh series of the series. Yeah. Munster and Toulouse.
00:55:14
Speaker
I'm going with to lose. Yeah. Just cause they, they are. This will be ugly. This will be, it's not going to be fun. No, this will be not for the faint of heart. Fighting means whatsoever. This is going to be ugly as shit, but I think so as one, you will not enjoy this. It will not be fun. Lester, Lester, Lester. It's a couple of disagreements. Yeah.
00:55:39
Speaker
You have a two game lead on me. So if you get them all right, then I'm boned and I need to start playing catch up. Yeah. I made a couple of bold predictions that have panned out. Nobody asked you.
00:55:57
Speaker
You kind of did. Well, shut up. Stop pointing out the obvious, damn it, that's my job. I feel like we balanced that. I think that's how we balance. Yeah, it's probably true. Shit. Well, damn it, I've been found out. What else are you going to do, right? Suddenly a lot of things make sense. Yes. Damn it, that makes sense. Shut up.
00:56:26
Speaker
We're back to Champions Cup. It's that fun time of year. It's the most wonderful time of the year. I am so excited, especially because I have so much PTO coming up. I'm just going to be... Are you even working on Monday or the Friday? Hold on. Wait. I'm using my multi-screen, so my work computer is actually up. So let me see. This Friday, I'm off. And then... Of course you are. Monday is the only day next week where I actually am working.
00:56:57
Speaker
Wow, man. Yes. Wow. Oh, you get no excuse to do anything else other than just sit on your ass and do rugby shit. No, I'm yeah, I'm going to make a nice little Ben ass dent in my cushion in your cushion permanent imprint. All right. Anyway.
00:57:19
Speaker
We appreciate y'all for hanging out with us, fancy rugby podcast at gmail.com. We will put a sheet out on Friday on the Twitter verse. It'll be much briefer than our other ones. Cause there's always so much we can put out there without us losing our minds, right? But it'll have some names out there to consider. So just keep that in mind. Um, I am, I've been plotting my way through rankings, but I'm going to get them out.
00:57:41
Speaker
And if not initially tomorrow at the very latest, I will get the Friday final ones out. So there's that. Like I said to you, Ben, or I have questions, comments, concerns. You know where to find us, but we appreciate you all for hanging out with us and listening to us, but enjoy the opening round champions cup. We'll talk to you guys next week. Have a good one later.