The Rugby Magazine Fantasy Game 2021/22

[Scrumhead]

Ugh … might be a tough week for me. Ford on a bye, Connon injured and Grayson not picked leaves me without a 10 and subject to selection, there’s a very good chance I have only 1 back on the bench …

[Peej]

Yeah a tough one this week. I'm carrying a lot of surplus players that I can't move on as they aren't really worth anything. Dombrandt and Smith not playing has made things pretty tricky on top of the Leicester bye. Have 21 green dots, one grey, and one red. Dabbled with the idea of the 20 point hit for an extra transfer but I just don't think it's worth it for the players I was going to bring in. Wold rather save and build the war chest. Time will tell.

[Scrumhead]

I screwed up badly this week …

I had Mitchell and Umaga in my cart and then decided that Quirke and Jackson would be a better combination. The latter pair are yet to play, but I very much doubt they’ll rack up the 100ps I could have had.

To make matters worse I had late drop outs from Lonsdale and Crossdale that I couldn’t cover.

And oh yeah, I dropped points to sign Hoskins who has steadily got more and more expensive while I procrastinated on signing him.

[Peej]

I've gone big this week, taken the 20 point hit and brought Simmonds in. So this is your warning not to pick him, as it's almost certainly going to be a poor game from him.

Some strange fluctuations on the numbers this week. Both Loz and Northmore have lost value

[Puja]

This week, selections have been very kind to me. Had a side with 21 starters before even making a transfer and could even afford to leave one green dot out of the squad entirely - meant I could clear out a couple of my low-value rubbish players who I bought just to get through a week. Hard team to pick though, as a big wodge of my squad are Quins players and I do find it awfully difficult to bet against my own team.

Puja

[switchskier]

I've gone big this week, taken the 20 point hit and brought Simmonds in. So this is your warning not to pick him, as it's almost certainly going to be a poor game from him.

Some strange fluctuations on the numbers this week. Both Loz and Northmore have lost value

It's ok. I've picked someone else as captain so a 40 point week is nailed on.

[Scrumhead]

This week, selections have been very kind to me. Had a side with 21 starters before even making a transfer and could even afford to leave one green dot out of the squad entirely - meant I could clear out a couple of my low-value rubbish players who I bought just to get through a week. Hard team to pick though, as a big wodge of my squad are Quins players and I do find it awfully difficult to bet against my own team.

Puja

Yeah, I struggle with that too - often to my cost. Although I’m quite Tigers heavy this weekend.

It’s a weird feeling when you sort of don’t mind someone scoring against your team when they’re in your fantasy side.

Mixed bag for me this week on the squad front. I have 21 starters, a sub and a red dot in my 23. I had more players on the bench for their sides, but in positions where I already had cover.

I’ve finally signed Mitchell and have joined the BJvR club.

[Shiny]

This week, selections have been very kind to me. Had a side with 21 starters before even making a transfer and could even afford to leave one green dot out of the squad entirely - meant I could clear out a couple of my low-value rubbish players who I bought just to get through a week. Hard team to pick though, as a big wodge of my squad are Quins players and I do find it awfully difficult to bet against my own team.

Puja

Yeah, I struggle with that too - often to my cost. Although I’m quite Tigers heavy this weekend.

It’s a weird feeling when you sort of don’t mind someone scoring against your team when they’re in your fantasy side.

Mixed bag for me this week on the squad front. I have 21 starters, a sub and a red dot in my 23. I had more players on the bench for their sides, but in positions where I already had cover.

I’ve finally signed Mitchell and have joined the BJvR club.

Mitchell is my captain this week so apologies to anyone else who picked him as he will now score single figures.

[Scrumhead]

I’m flip flapping between Mitchell and Genge for captain but am also considering Montoya as a bit of a left field choice.

[Scrumhead]

This week, selections have been very kind to me. Had a side with 21 starters before even making a transfer and could even afford to leave one green dot out of the squad entirely - meant I could clear out a couple of my low-value rubbish players who I bought just to get through a week. Hard team to pick though, as a big wodge of my squad are Quins players and I do find it awfully difficult to bet against my own team.

Puja

Yeah, I struggle with that too - often to my cost. Although I’m quite Tigers heavy this weekend.

It’s a weird feeling when you sort of don’t mind someone scoring against your team when they’re in your fantasy side.

Mixed bag for me this week on the squad front. I have 21 starters, a sub and a red dot in my 23. I had more players on the bench for their sides, but in positions where I already had cover.

I’ve finally signed Mitchell and have joined the BJvR club.

Mitchell is my captain this week so apologies to anyone else who picked him as he will now score single figures.

Currently your prediction is worryingly accurate …

[Shiny]

Yeah, I struggle with that too - often to my cost. Although I’m quite Tigers heavy this weekend.

It’s a weird feeling when you sort of don’t mind someone scoring against your team when they’re in your fantasy side.

Mixed bag for me this week on the squad front. I have 21 starters, a sub and a red dot in my 23. I had more players on the bench for their sides, but in positions where I already had cover.

I’ve finally signed Mitchell and have joined the BJvR club.

Mitchell is my captain this week so apologies to anyone else who picked him as he will now score single figures.

Currently your prediction is worryingly accurate …

I am nothing if not consistent (-ly bad). If anyone wants a player to go from excellent to bad next round, I am open to bribes for picking them.

[Puja]

Oh FFS. I've had Augustus as my captain the past 2 weeks cause I keep thinking he's going to score big and he just gets 20 points or so. This week I do it again and then change my mind to go to Mitchell, on the week that Mitchell sucks and Augustus finally scores big.

Puja

[FKAS]

At least you haven't got £340k tied up in Charles Piatau who can't score 20 points but whom I can't get rid of because I always seem to need to swap someone else out because of the bye weeks.

[Scrumhead]

Oh FFS. I've had Augustus as my captain the past 2 weeks cause I keep thinking he's going to score big and he just gets 20 points or so. This week I do it again and then change my mind to go to Mitchell, on the week that Mitchell sucks and Augustus finally scores big.

Puja

Yeah. This game defies logic a lot of the time. I went for Mitchell as captain on the basis that he’d got an average of 50pts over the past 3 games and was playing the worst team in the league. 22 isn’t outright dreadful, but it’s well below what I was expecting.

I’ve been eyeing up Augustus for a few weeks, but a bit like FKAS said with Piutau, I’m typically having to prioritise elsewhere rather than make the signings I really want to.

I have a plan for next round, but I dare say the selection gods will mess with me yet again. Particularly with 2wks in between.

[Peej]

495 points, which is my highest of the season, and with a 20 point hit. Cheers Simmonds for choosing this week to get sub-20, and I've just realised that Chiefs have the bye next round too. Quality bit of work from me

[Scrumhead]

Quins and Saints teams not being announced until Sunday. Still time to pick prior to the Bristol vs. Leicester kick off at 2pm though.

[FKAS]

Sale Vs Newcastle called off due to Covid. Well that buggers my team.

[Puja]

Quins and Saints teams not being announced until Sunday. Still time to pick prior to the Bristol vs. Leicester kick off at 2pm though.

That's putting me in a bind - half my squad is Quins and Saints and I'm off round the in-laws tomorrow. Will try and get 10 minutes to one side with my mobile.

Sale Vs Newcastle called off due to Covid. Well that buggers my team.

I've got a Newcastle prop, which is nice - the average is almost always higher than a prop normally scores. Plus some useless Sale backs who weren't playing to make sure I shan't be short of bench-filler.

ETA. Wait, cancelled or postponed? I thought all COVID games were dealt with by the 4 points for the non-COVID and 2 points for the COVIDed side, but everywhere I can see is saying "postponed" which is unusual.

Is that the first Prem game that's been called this season because of the 'rona?

Puja

[FKAS]

Well that fine for you but I had McGuigan, Robinson and the du Preez twins all in my starting pack. All tend to score well.

[Scrumhead]

Similar for me with McGuigan, Robinson and Quirke.

Should still be OK, but that probably depends on the Quins and Saints lineups.

[FKAS]

Managed it out in the end. Would have been a good chance to offload Piatau actually who's been a poor scorer so far but I fear I'd be jinxing myself and if I did that he'd be on fire Vs Tigers and I'd rather not see that.

[Peej]

A pretty good week but made a couple of bad calls in my centres and at full back with my starters/bench. Moved up a place in the league though

[FKAS]

I'm closing in on the next spot up in the league (thoroughly mid table mind). Dan Cole scoring a solitary point (bit harsh) and another awful return on investment from Charles Piatau somewhat hampered me. Piatau scoring as much as Northmore despite playing a full game compared to Northmore playing less than a half.

Knew if I ditched Piatau he'd have a stunner Vs Tigers though so couldn't risk that.

[Scrumhead]

Re. Cole, I think there’s an argument to say props should have a different scoring system. Having watched the game his contribution to the team was definitely worth more than 1 point. However, in a week where a number of props scored 20+, there’s a counter-argument to say that the scoring is fine as it is.

In previous seasons Piutau has done well, but right now, you could easily sign two players for what he costs - both of whom would probably score more than he is right now. Although - the rule of sod dictates that the week you let him go is the week he he runs riot … as a case in point, I swapped Dombrandt for Sam Simmonds ahead of the Bristol game …

[Scrumhead]

A few unexpected absentees/benched players for me this week … I’m hoping Irish pick their regular lineup, otherwise my transfer plans are scuppered.