It’s time to make your picks for Fantasy Rugby 2019, with the opening match of Round One fast approaching!
France v Wales will kick off this year’s Guinness Six Nations this evening – which means you’ve still got time to pick your team!
This year’s winner will claim the Ultimate Guinness Six Nations weekend in 2020 – match tickets, flights and an overnight stay for two.
Round winners will win a voucher for the official Guinness Six Nations Store!
There’s also glory to be had through our easy-to-set-up Private Leagues, while we’ll be measuring how fans of each nation perform against each other in our ‘League of Nations’ this year!
Every day you have the opportunity to pick a Supersub among the players on your bench, so you’ll have to choose wisely to plot your way past your work colleagues, friends and family.
The points on your Supersub will be tripled on the day, but only if they come off the bench to play in the match.
And if they start in the first team or simply don’t play – points will be divided by two for all the other substitutes as a result.
Could these five men be the players that turn around your Fantasy Rugby fortunes off the bench?
DAN BIGGAR – 14 STARS
Wales travel to Paris tonight as Warren Gatland’s men kick off their Guinness Six Nations campaign in at the Stade de France.
Cardiff Blues man Gareth Anscombe has been handed a starting berth at fly-half, but Biggar will undoubtedly be ready to strike off the replacement bench when called upon.
The Northampton Saints out-half boasts a mightily impressive points record in Wales colours – notching up 323 points from his 65 caps.
Any player that kicks goals for their team is worth a look, as points are divvied out for conversions, penalties and drop goals.
With many tipping France and Wales to to and fro right until the final whistle, a man of Biggar’s experience could prove vital in securing his side the win and a flurry of fantasy points to boot.
ADAM HASTINGS – 11 STARS
Scotland host Italy in their Guinness Six Nations opener on Saturday with the aim of extending their outstanding home record into a third Championships.
Gregor Townsend’s men are unbeaten at BT Murrayfield since Round 1 in 2016 – making Scottish players an attractive prospect as they welcome Italy.
What’s more with players securing 12 points for a home win, Hastings becomes an altogether more attractive proposition if he’s called upon off the bench.
With Finn Russell getting the starting nod, Hastings will have to bide his time to make his impact, but if he does emerge he has the chance to add to his impressive scoring streak for the season.
Marketed at a relatively cheap 11 stars, the Scot could be a certified diamond in the rough for fantasy players.
CHERIF TRAORE – 8 STARS
With many managers expected to use their budget to the full on their first-team squad, cheap gems off the bench will undoubtedly come at a premium.
History is against Italy when they travel to BT Murrayfield with them not having won in Edinburgh since 2015 – so by the form book’s reckoning Italy could be forced onto the defensive.
Big tacklers could be the order of the day and that’s certainly what’s going to happen when the Cherif is in town.
Every tackle made by your player wins you 1 player point – double what it was worth last year.
And players will also earn 0.2 points for every metre made and few professionals are as good at bulldozing away opposing numbers as Benetton prop Traore.
Named among Conor O’Shea’s replacements, the 24-year-old machine could make a huge impact for the Italians and maybe for your Fantasy team too.
GAEL FICKOU – 15 STARS
At the pricey end of the spectrum French three-quarter Fickou could provide an electric presence off the bench for Jacques Brunel’s side.
The Stade Francais powerhouse is expected to play his part off the bench against Wales and his record of 35 international points could come in handy to provide a cutting edge.
Teammate Baptiste Serin is also among the replacements and would take the kicks if Morgan Parra is replaced. His passing could also add welcome points to your Fantasy tally.
JORDAN LARMOUR – 11 STARS
Defending champions Ireland kick off their Guinness Six Nations campaign at home to challengers England as Joe Schmidt’s men aim to continue their Championship dominance.
The Irish are undefeated in their last ten games at the Aviva in all competitions – including beating New Zealand in the recent autumn international campaign.
The versatile Larmour could provide the crucial thrust that gets Ireland over the line and as demonstrated in the Guinness PRO14 and Champions Cup this campaign and last.
