The deadline is looming for Fantasy Rugby managers, who now have less than 48 hours to finalise their internal selection meetings ahead of another exciting weekend of Guinness Six Nations action.
Yesterday we brought you six must-have forwards for your team and today we focus on the backs, where plenty of points are up for grabs.
Pick your Guinness Six Nations fantasy team!
Ten of the 12 tries in Round 1 were scored by those wearing numbers 9-15 – with any managers who packed their teams with French players enjoying particularly productive opening weekends.
You can’t read too much into 80 minutes, of course, but there are already plenty of players who look to have hit their stride in this year’s Championship – while others head into Round 2 with a point to prove.
Like the Championship itself, Guinness Six Nations Fantasy Rugby is not won or lost on the opening weekend – there is more than enough time to recover your fortunes if you’re lagging behind your friends and family after Round 1.
Put your rugby knowledge to the test with the Guinness Six Nations predictor!
And should you need a helping hand, here are six backs we reckon you should have in your squad this weekend…
Henry Slade (England)
England will hope to see more from their talented backline this weekend and their creative outside centre should play a key role against Italy.
Slade has a new man to link up with in midfield, with Owen Farrell shifted along the backline to accommodate the returning George Ford, and England know they need to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to keep their hopes of a successful title defence alive.
Slade scored against the Azzurri on Super Saturday in October and will look to pull the strings at Twickenham.
Luca Sperandio (Italy)
The wing scored one of the tries of the weekend in Round 1 and will be ready to capitalise on any opportunities that come his way.
Italy may have been well beaten against France but Franco Smith’s side showed evidence of their quality with ball in hand and won’t hesitate to get the ball wide to Sperandio and Monty Ioane.
At 9.2 stars, the 25-year-old is the second-cheapest wing in the game – an absolute steal.
Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Dancing feet, booming kicks and talismanic leadership – Stuart Hogg was at his absolute best in Round 1 as he became the first Scotland captain to lead his side to victory at Twickenham since 1983.
The 28-year-old earned 85.1 points for his Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match display and should he reach those heights again, Hogg will be worth every last one of the 17.3 stars you’ll have to part with to get him in.
Now back on home soil at BT Murrayfield, the full-back will lead by example once more as his side welcome Wales looking to make it two wins from two.
Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
A stunning athletic finish against Ireland only served to enhance this 20-year-old’s growing reputation.
The jet-heeled wing looks at home on the international stage and will hope to add to his Championship tally at BT Murrayfield.
His price has gone up after his excellent display last time out but at 13.3 stars, Rees-Zammit remains excellent value.
Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
Among several positives Ireland could take from their defeat in Cardiff was the performance of Hugo Keenan, who was solid defensively and provided an attacking threat.
The Leinster man made more metres (122) than any of his fellow full-backs in Round 1 and earned 50.1 points in the process – the 24-year-old is a snip at 13.5 stars.
He will have to be at his best against an in-form French backline but it’s a challenge the full-back will relish.
Arthur Vincent (France)
Take your pick from the French backline, all of whom scored highly in Round 1.
Arthur Vincent is the most expensive centre in Guinness Six Nations Fantasy Rugby but you get what you pay for – his remarkable tally of 108 points was almost double that of the next highest-scoring player in his position on the opening weekend.
The 21-year-old and Gael Fickou going head-to-head against Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose in Dublin is a mouth-watering prospect – fasten your seatbelts.
