The Rugby Magazine Fantasy Game 2021/22

[Puja]

Picked Fitz Harding as my captain this week and would've been better off picking literally anyone else in my starting XV.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

That was me last week with Freddie Clarke and his mighty 12 points.

Another week where I got all my 50:50s wrong (including picking Harding ahead of about 4 other options). Out of the cup and out of the top 10 as it stands

My two signings - Vermeulen and Furbank - contributed the sum total of 26pts between them.

[FKAS]

Yeah Furbank was a let down. Green going off early for Quins as well was a kick in the trousers. Back three output was not great.

[Scrumhead]

Yep. It was particularly annoying seeing Mitchell, Furbank and Odogwu all having tries disallowed. Apart from Mitchell’s (the push made no difference to that try being scored) that was 40pts I could have had.

Went out of the cup with 506pts which was very disappointing. Mainly because if I had picked two of the players I left out (Tizard and BJVR), I’d have gone through.

[Scrumhead]

The curse of the 50:50s hit me hard this week. Picked JLDP as captain with McGuigan as VC and started Goodrick-Clarke instead of Hoskins. Those decisions alone cost me over 50pts.

Ironically, DVDM scored me more points not playing than the last time he did actually play for me.

Vermeulen and Furbank have been crap signings … 26 points between them last round and a mighty 22 points this round.

[FKAS]

Yeah Furbank has been a disappointment, just like when he plays for England. Might have to wait another week before I offload him.

Dropped Robinson the Falcons lock, that was an error with JLDP being so uncharacteristically rubbish and Robinson outscoring all the players I chose instead of him.

I kept Hoskins in the side but made the error of starting Goodrick-Clark instead of Heyes which alone was a 26 point loss.

493 scored but should have been into the 500s.

[Puja]

The curse of the 50:50s hit me hard this week. Picked JLDP as captain with McGuigan as VC and started Goodrick-Clarke instead of Hoskins. Those decisions alone cost me over 50pts.

Ironically, DVDM scored me more points not playing than the last time he did actually play for me.

Vermeulen and Furbank have been crap signings … 26 points between them last round and a mighty 22 points this round.

You think you got it wrong, I had a choice between dropping Brocklebank and Hislop to the bench. Chose Brocklebank, who scored 77 points, instead of Hislop, who scored -1.

Puja

[Peej]

I scored 411 and consider that lucky after some pretty poor returns across the board. Mitchell did alright but a quieter game is disappointing when I made him captain and then Montoya - my previous captain - actually had an upturn in form. Barbeary did nothing for me either. And I have Brocklebank in the squad but didn't even bench him as he's normally so shite. I should have gone for gamesmanship and put Glos players who weren't selected in, as they would have got better average scores than those I did pick.

[Scrumhead]

I don’t like picking the average score players but I had no choice this weekend as I’d already done my transfer business.

Clarke, Harris and DVDM were on my bench but all scored better than Vermeulen, Harris and Odogwu who I started

I’m planning to spend big this round which I’m nervous about. Recently, every player I’ve signed has immediately lost the form that made me sign them!

[Peej]

Then do us a favour and let us know who you are signing!

[Puja]

I literally had a choice of green players for every single position except hooker (where I still had 1 green). Clearly the end times are upon us.

Puja

[Shiny]

I literally had a choice of green players for every single position except hooker (where I still had 1 green). Clearly the end times are upon us.

Puja

Yup, its the last knockings of the season and I am pretty much fully green as well. After a storming 500+ points last round I'm hoping for the same again, which of course means my captain will go off injured from the kick off.

[FKAS]

Yeah in a similar position. Slight issue with it did not being economically worth it to offload a couple and move the squad around.

I had the opposite problem with hookers. Three hookers, all starting and I think all possible of scoring me good points. Was difficult to narrow it down.

[Scrumhead]

Yeah, with the exception of Matavesi and Itoje, I had a full squad to call upon.

Often I find too much choice worse as I invariably get I all the 50:50 selections wrong.

[Peej]

For the first time in a while I have a full team of green dots and could actually make a strategic decision on who to sign. Even had some choices in positions!

Cleared 500 last week for the first time in ages, and with Malins pulling out late too. Hoping for more of the same this week to keep me in the top 10 of our league

[Peej]

So far the strategic choice, who I made captain, is on -2. Strong work.

[switchskier]

How exactly has Thorley only scored 5 points when Gloucester have smashed Bath 64-0? Typical of me to pick the only player not to get into double figures

[FKAS]

How exactly has Thorley only scored 5 points when Gloucester have smashed Bath 64-0? Typical of me to pick the only player not to get into double figures

Potter scored me sod all last week (-2) so switched him with Radwan for the bench spot this weekend. Potter goes and scores twice the number of points at 33. FFS.

Just need LI Vs Wasps tomorrow to be an end to end try fest.

[Scrumhead]

To be fair, I picked Freddie Clarke to start expecting him to do well and he scored a very average 14 points so it wasn’t just Thorley.

That is the nature of this game … SO damn frustrating, but that challenge is part of what keeps me coming back to it.

[Peej]

Yep. Hopes of 500 proved to be rather far fetched. A late call to not have Malins as captain was..... unwise

[Scrumhead]

Selection messing with me his round … a few unexpected absentees and players I didn’t expect to see on the bench.

[Peej]

Oh really? I had a better than average week in terms of availability. I will of course have picked the wrong available players, but at least it provides clarity on whether I'm lucky or good. I've had a few poor weeks and lost ground on a few people, hoping to make that up.

[Scrumhead]

I’ve only got a small squad and I expected Hassell-Collins, Harding, Matavesi and Montoya to be starting so I was a bit up against it. Didn’t help that Odogwu and Tom Willis are no longer starters.

Sold Jackson and OHC which at least gave me enough cash to plug all the gaps so I’m back to all green in the end.

[FKAS]

Too many backrow and centre options. Wingers are a bit short. Main tough one was where to include Barbeary, he's currently the bench hooker but that means Oghre is out the squad. To many players to choose from.

[Scrumhead]

I’m also trying to think ahead. I didn’t want to sign anyone who definitely won’t be playing beyond next week which changed my thinking a bit.