The Six Nations is just around the corner and what better way to get the competitive juices flowing than partaking in The Irish Times Fantasy Rugby League to make the tournament a little bit more exciting.
By Declan Whooley
While the Premier League version allows entrants the chance to catch-up and make up lost ground on their rivals, the seven-week format of the Six Nations means that unless you hit the ground running, your hopes can be dashed very quickly. A bit like the tournament itself.
Here are some useful tips to bear in mind when picking your team. For more information on how to enter and a guideline to all the rules and how to secure those precious points, click here.
Keep a close eye on team selections
A seemingly obvious point, but in a short tournament, every point is precious. You do not want to be cursing yourself afterwards because you forgot to check that the Italian prop you had in week one has been benched.
Teams generally make only a few changes, Declan Kidney rarely makes more than a couple of alterations unless they are enforced, though the Italians, on the other hand, can make wholesale changes that you may not notice unless you’re clued in. Team announcenments are always a few days in advance of the games so you have no excuses.
Flood your pack with back-rowers
While in theory it would be nice to go for three in the front-row, two locks and three in the back row, this is about winning. Back rowers can be real points earners, as they are try scorers and often man-of-the-match contenders.
Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, David Denton, Imanol Harinordoquy, Thierry Dusatoir and Sergio Parisse are always in contention for man-of-the-match awards and are also scoring threats. We’re not saying you must go with eight back-rowers, but you could make far worse decisions.
Dan Lydiate picking up a man-of-the-match award last season
Avoid front-rowers like the plague
It’s rare these days that the starting front row completes 80 minutes in international rugby. Considering you lose a point if your player is subbed off, they can be high risk. Coupled with the fact that props are more than prone to ten minutes on the sideline, they may not be worth putting in the side. Not that we would say that to Martin Castrogiovanni’s face.
It’s a marathon not a sprint
While it is just five weekends of rugby, you must keep in mind the final week. It is all well and fine being in contention only to realise that on the final weekend you have seven players not starting but only five changes you can make.
Going for a dark horse is fine, and possibly the difference between the top teams in the end, but don’t overdo it. Injuries, form and suspensions can have a major impact on your selections, as many changes will be forced.
Don’t dismiss the Italians, but do not pick their backs
The Italians are a plucky bunch. They are about as easy on the eye as Susan Boyle in a leopard skin leotard, but their game centres on the pack. Which is just as well as they scored just four tries last year and six the year before, so they are far from prolific.
In Sergio Parisse, as mentioned already, they have one of the best players in the tournament, but have forwards who may just well barrel over for try.
The Italians doing what they do best
Play horses for courses
No this is not a Tesco-related gag, more of a general heads up to take each game on its merits, to quote John Giles. When Ireland travel to Italy, you may wish to put in another back. Likewise, when Scotland host the Italians, it could be an idea to get another forward into the mix as this fixture produced just one try last time out. Like elephants during mating season, that particular fixture is not pretty, but it at least you know what to expect.
You will need to re-evaluate after each week and gauge your selection ahead of the following weekend’s fixtures.
The JOE League
Forget Hook, Pope, O’Shea, Barnes, Greenwood or Fitzpatrick, if you fancy testing yourself against the ‘real’ experts – i.e. fellow JOE readers and the rugby heads in the JOE office – then you’ll want to join the special JOE league we’ve set-up to add some proper spice to the whole thing.
To enter, simply head on over to the Fantasy Rugby on The Irish Times website, go to join an existing league and enter the code: 32182. Closing date for entries is the same as the league itself – 1.30pm on Saturday February 2 – so make sure to enter before then and ensure you don’t get left out in the cold.
Best of luck!
