Round 2 of the Autumn Nations Series is just around the corner ,and after a thrilling opening round, it is time to make some vital changes to your teams.
As ever with Autumn Nations Series Fantasy Rugby, there is a great change in fixtures week-to-week, with some teams facing a difficult challenge one week before a much kinder offering seven days later.
With unlimited changes between rounds, there is no reason you cannot maximise the fixture swings, and ensure your team is filled with all the likely top scorers ahead of Round 2.
So, without further ado, here are three players we believe would be great additions to any team and three players who may not be the ideal choice.
START
Robert Baloucoune (Ireland)
Ireland have never lost to Fiji and, as the world No.1 side and fresh from beating the world champion Springboks, it doesn’t seem likely that record will be in grave danger this weekend.
Ulster winger Baloucoune has been a present threat in the United Rugby Championship and Heineken Champions Cup for the past two seasons, and in a very competitive Ireland squad, will be desperate to find himself selected long term heading into the World Cup.
At 12.1 stars, he could represent incredible value, with Ireland racking up an average of 43 points whenever they play the Flying Fijians, and Baloucoune having such an excellent strike rate with club – now he looks to add to his one try in three Tests.
Sam Simmonds (England)
It was a day to forget for England last weekend but, now hungry to prove fans and media alike wrong, facing Japan at Twickenham could be a high-scoring affair indeed.
Simmonds has been entrusted with the No.8 jersey, and having scored a staggering 80 tries in 119 Exeter Chiefs appearances he could be a very astute addition to any fantasy side.
Setting you back a measly 11.4 stars, Simmonds not only could be considered a bargain, but he may almost be a Round 2 essential.
Marcos Kremer (Argentina)
Much of the attention from Argentina’s first win at Twickenham since 2006 went to Emiliano Boffelli, and rightly so.
But as he so often seems to do for the Pumas, flanker Marcos Kremer went under the radar and racked up 20 tackles, the most on the pitch by seven.
Against Wales, Michael Cheika’s men face a challenge, having not won in Cardiff in 10 years, meaning Kremer will be a key man again as Wales look to bounce back from their 55-23 defeat to New Zealand.
14.6 stars makes him one of the more expensive names on this list, but there can be no doubting that Kremer can certainly be taken into consideration by fantasy managers this week.
SIT
Monty Ioane (Italy)
Italy and Ioane were at their very best against Samoa when running out 49-17 winners in Padua, with Ioane bagging two tries in a comprehensive win over the Pacific Nations Cup champions.
The visit of Australia is a totally different proposition for the Azzurri on the other hand, having pushed Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam winners France all the way in a 30-29 defeat in Paris.
Against his country of birth, Ioane will be desperate to prove a point, but with the Wallabies improving every week, this may be a week to strongly consider whether the 16.6 stars are worth it on the Italian flyer.
Frans Malherbe (South Africa)
Malherbe is undoubtedly one of the best prop forwards in the world and is a key part of the Springboks notoriously excellent pack.
But in facing Cyril Baille in the scrum and South Africa facing a France side who have won 11 matches in a row, this maybe seems like a week in which Malherbe would be better off away from your starting XV.
At just 10.8 stars he may still be considered a worthwhile gamble, but in what is set to be a very difficult encounter between two of the world’s best sides, Malherbe may not be able to get on the scoreboard as much with fantasy points – making alternate options potentially more attractive.
Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
Van der Merwe is always a popular choice in fantasy rugby and you can see why, with his destructive ball carrying once again earning him a try in the 28-12 win over Fiji.
But with Scotland hosting New Zealand in Edinburgh on Sunday, it looks set to be a much harder afternoon for Van der Merwe than last Saturday.
At 16.7 stars, he is also on the more expensive side and with Gregor Townsend’s side still not registering a victory over New Zealand in 115 years of fixtures, it may be a sensible option to spend your big coins elsewhere.
