It may be an old rugby cliche, but it is true, forwards win matches, and backs decide by how much.
We have looked at the forwards you will need in your Fantasy Rugby team ahead of the start of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, but now it is time to take our first deep dive into your back line.
There is no better place to start than with the half-backs, scrum-half and fly-half, where there is no shortage of options for Fantasy Rugby enthusiasts.
So with that in mind, let’s begin our rundown of half-back options, starting with a fly-half who has big shoes to fill at the start of this year’s Guinness Six Nations.
Cheap – Tommaso Allan – 11 stars
Italy are flying high, having only lost two of their last seven Tests.
Star fly-half Paolo Garbisi has led the way in most of those matches, but with the Montpellier man expected to miss Italy’s opening three games, Tommaso Allan will take the reins.
The Harlequins half-back has shown he has the quality to make a difference for Italy in the past, scoring in his side’s win against Romania over the summer and putting in an impressive performance in the Azzurri’s defiant defeat against world champions South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series.
An experienced goal kicker, Allan is sure to score plenty of points in Fantasy Rugby during the opening rounds of this year’s Guinness Six Nations.
And with Italy playing an exciting brand of attacking rugby, do not be surprised to see him cross the whitewash a couple of times, even against top defences like Ireland and France.
Allan is available for just 11 stars, an absolute bargain for any starting fly-half.
So, take the risk, and put him in your side as soon as possible.
Mid-range – Ali Price – 14 Stars
You could argue Ali Price has done enough to be valued higher than 14 Stars.
The Scotland scrum-half has made the nine jersey his own in recent years, and now has 58 caps to his name, making him one of Gregor Townsend’s most experienced backs.
But the Glasgow Warriors star has not lost any of the energy, speed or in-game intelligence that made him so great to start with.
It is reflected in the pace of Scotland’s play, and in his eye for the try line.
Price has crossed the whitewash four times on the international stage and is now one of the first names on Townsend’s team sheet.
So, at just 14 stars, there is no reason not to have the Norfolk-born ace in your Fantasy Rugby team.
Expensive – Antoine Dupont – 20 stars
Where to start?
Antoine Dupont has cemented himself as one of the best players in the northern hemisphere since making his debut in France’s fourth 2017 Six Nations Championship match against Italy.
He was a must-have player in last year’s Guinness Six Nations Fantasy Rugby, included in the Team of the Championship, with an average of 54.4 points per match.
He was also crowned the 2022 Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship after leading France to the Grand Slam.
So, 20 stars, while expensive, is probably a fair price for such an established and exciting scrum-half.
If you can budget wisely, you have got to put him in your team.
