Round 3 will be the final full round of the Autumn Nations Series in 2022 and after two exhilarating weekends, many fantasy titles will come down to this.
With only two matches being played next weekend, this represents a vital round to earn maximum points and defeat your family and friends.
Unlimited changes can be made between rounds, so it is the perfect time to make those astute adjustments and set your team up to be a winner.
So, without further ado, here are three players we believe will thrive this weekend, as well as three players who might be best avoided.
START
Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
It has been far from the dream autumn so far for Louis Rees-Zammit, who came into the Welsh set-up on the back of excellent form at Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership.
But against Georgia on Saturday, Rees-Zammit has a real chance to re-establish that try-scoring form.
Wales have played Georgia three times and come out on the winning side on each of those occasions, with Wayne Pivac’s full-back on Saturday getting on the scoresheet in their 18-0 win in the Autumn Nations Cup last time out in 2020.
At 15.1 stars, Rees-Zammit represents decent value, and is certainly someone to consider for your team this week, with Wales looking to continue from their 20-13 win over Argentina.
Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina)
After securing Player of the Match honours against England in Round 1, Boffelli then scored eight of Argentina’s 13 points against Wales in Round 2.
In the summer, Argentina faced Scotland in a three Test series, coming out on top in a 2-1 victory, with Boffelli scoring the series-winning try in style.
In what is expected to be a very tight affair at BT Murrayfield – a stone’s throw from his home ground, Boffelli can be expected to be heavily involved in proceedings, with try-scoring and goal-kicking both a route to those vital Round 3 points.
In that 34-31 victory in the third Test in July, Boffelli scored 19 points, showing his potential to score highly again, and he is now valued at just 13.8 stars, representing fantastic value.
Yoram Moefana (France)
In the summer in Japan, Yoram Moefana was at his very best and since then, he has carried that form into both the victories over South Africa and Australia.
Playing at inside centre in the summer, Moefana scored in the first Test and thrived in the second as France continued their incredible win streak which has seen them reach 12 matches unbeaten.
Now playing on the wing, he will play against a Japan side who conceded 52 points against England last weekend, and with France’s attack firing at the moment, there could be plenty of points scored by Les Bleus too.
On the game as a centre, allowing you to still have three back-three options, Moefana costs a measly 10 stars, making him surely one of the bargains of the weekend, and certainly someone who can deliver potentially big points.
SIT
Codie Taylor (New Zealand)
Very few hookers have the ability to score as many points as Taylor has this autumn, scoring two tries against Wales in Round 1, and a further 26.3 points when coming on for just 20 minutes against Scotland.
That might make him seem like a certainty to start again this week, but with the All Blacks visiting England at Twickenham, it may actually be a better week to rest Taylor, in what is expected to be an incredibly tight match.
England’s front row has been in good form this Autumn Nations Series, and that may make it a tough challenge for Taylor and the New Zealand pack to get the same platform they have had in recent weeks.
Taylor is notorious for scoring from close range and in particular from the back of the driving maul, but England’s defence has generally been strong so far.
He is also the joint most expensive hooker in the game at 15.6 stars, and in a tough game to call, it may be best to quit while you are ahead with Taylor.
Ange Capuozzo (Italy)
The Player of the Round for Round 2 after scoring two tries on his return to the Italian starting XV in Italy’s historic 28-27 victory over Australia.
That makes dropping him a week later seem bizarre, but he is about to come up against arguably the most feared defence in world rugby – South Africa.
Conceding just four tries so far this autumn, only once has an outside back scored against South Africa – Mack Hansen on the counter-attack.
The Azzurri have also only defeated South Africa once, in 2016, and after suffering back-to-back defeats to Ireland and France, the Springboks will be desperate to finally get a victory ahead of their clash with England in Round 4.
Now 16.6 stars, Capuozzo may have reached his peak after that game against Australia and it could be wise to cash in on his increase in price and look elsewhere in the back three.
Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
Nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year in the week and scoring against South Africa in ridiculous fashion in Round 1, Van der Flier is at the very top of his game.
Like Capuozzo, that makes choosing to sit him out seem outright bonkers, but Australia may be a game to avoid.
The Wallabies have been involved in three one-point margin matches in a row and four of the last five matches between the two sides have been decided by less than seven points, suggesting that once again it will likely be a very tight affair.
15.2 stars is also a fairly hefty fee for a back row not facing weaker opposition, and despite his good form, Van der Flier comes up against a hungry Wallabies side who came within minutes of beating France and perhaps more importantly, Michael Hooper will be his opposite man, potentially putting off some managers.
