The 2022 Guinness Six Nations returns this weekend for Round 3, and as all six sides approach the business end of the competition, it is time to look at your Fantasy Rugby squad.
The deadline is set for kick-off in the Scotland v France fixture – 2.15pm on Saturday 26 February, so there is still plenty of time to make changes to your team if you have not already.
We are here to help you make those critical Fantasy Rugby decisions, and with everything left to play for in Rugby’s Greatest Championship, what better time to look at who performed well in the opening two rounds.
Returning stars
Several stars are ready to make their first Guinness Six Nations appearances of the campaign this weekend. After proving his fitness in two matches with Sale Sharks, Manu Tuilagi looked as if he would return to Eddie Jones’ England squad.
He has declared himself fit to start against Wales and was the most selected player since the end of Round 2 at an astonishingly affordable 14.6 Stars.
However, a hamstring injury suffered in training means he is now out of Saturday’s game.
Courtney Lawes will be available for the contest and will captain England at Twickenham.
He is currently the third most selected player ahead of Round 3 at an affordable price of 14.3 stars.
Similarly, fans can also expect to see Taulupe Faletau when Jones’ side face Wales at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon.
The Bath Rugby back-rower is available at a reasonable price of 13.5 stars, and after winning 86 caps for Wales, there is no doubt that he could play a significant role in the game at Twickenham.
Which Ireland stars to choose
Ahead of a mouth-watering clash with Italy, Ireland have seen a host of their big-name players drafted into people’s Fantasy Rugby teams.
After an astounding start to the Guinness Six Nations, Connacht Rugby winger Mack Hansen finds himself as the most selected player ahead of Round 3, in part due to Tuilagi’s injury.
The 23-year-old has recorded an average of 66.3 points across two games and is now available for 13 stars after starting Rugby’s Greatest Championship at a value of just 11.5 stars.
Johnny Sexton has also been drafted into many Fantasy Rugby teams after recovering from the injury that saw him miss the clash with France in Round 2.
He is now available for 17.5 stars ahead of the match in Dublin and is the fifth most selected player since Round 2 despite being named on the bench.
Garry Ringrose is the sixth most selected player and will pose a serious threat in the centres against Italy.
You can have him in your squad for 16.3 stars, and that seems a fair price considering he recorded 32.8 points in Round 2 and 73.4 in Round 1.
Fly-half showdown at BT Murrayfield
This weekend, two of the Championship’s best-performing tens will go head-to-head in Edinburgh. Romain Ntamack may not have scored the most points of any fly-half this Championship, but he is available at a fair 14.6 stars.
Meanwhile, fellow Top 14 star Finn Russell will be eager to impress after seeing yellow against Wales in Round 2.
That yellow cost his side dear, with Wales edging into the lead in his absence, but after scoring 44.27 points, you can see why people may want to keep him in their Fantasy Rugby teams.
He is available for 16.2 stars, and with many pundits expecting a high scoring contest in Edinburgh, it may be wise to draft one of these two outstanding players into your side.
Who is being dropped?
This week’s been a rollercoaster for Fantasy Rugby players, with several big decisions to be made across different positions – although some decisions were made easy.
After being ruled out for the rest of the Guinness Six Nations, Jonny Gray was Fantasy Rugby’s most dropped player after withdrawing from Scotland’s squad with an ankle injury.
Louis Rees-Zammit was Fantasy Rugby’s second most dropped player after not making the squad to face England. But there were also some more challenging decisions.
Marcus Smith was impressive in the first two rounds and has been selected to face Wales, but finds himself as Fantasy Rugby’s third most dropped player nonetheless.
That could be in part down to his own success, with Smith’s value skyrocketing to 18.3 stars from 15.7 after recording 130 points in Round 2.
Other players have been deemed as surplus to requirements after a disappointing start to Rugby’s Greatest Championship.
One example is Stuart Hogg, who is Fantasy Rugby’s sixth most dropped player after a disappointing 29.5 points in Round 1 and 36.2 points in Round 2.
Captain
After two competitive opening rounds of Guinness Six Nations rugby, it’s incredibly tough to select a captain.
But we also have a much better idea of who will be completing 80 minutes, so you can maximise your team points if you get this decision right.
This week, it might be wise to go with an Ireland player, as they’ll be looking to bounce back against Italy after last week’s defeat at the hands of tournament favourites France.
Hansen and James Lowe are outstanding players available at fair prices who are likely to play the full 80 minutes.
But alternatively, you could go with Ringrose, who’ll be looking to impress on the biggest stage after a superb start to the competition.
Elsewhere, you could go with one of France’s stars as they look to continue their quest for a Grand Slam.
