Superbru: Check out these Prizes!
After a couple surprises over the weekend we look at the various options you have for the Rugby World Cup midweek games.
Please note that you can still join our Prediction and Fantasy leagues, the sign up details are at the bottom of the article. We encourage you to join.
My first preview was pretty accurate player-wise with Nemani Nadolo (Fiji), Vainikolo (Tonga), Lodewyk de Jager, Francois Louw and Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia) , Sean O'Brien and Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Tim Nanai Williams (Samoa), and Michael Leitch (Japan) all scoring tries and were tipped in our first preview.
*** We also have a special announcement ! For both our Prediction and Fantasy league we have managed to organize PRIZES! At the end of the tournament our top three managers in both leagues will win the following awesome prizes.
First Prize – Rugby365 Hamper (Cap, T-Shirt, Biltong, Castle 6 Pack, Future Life Sample Pack, John Smit Autobiography, SA Rugby Annual)
Second Prize – Rugby365 Cap and T-Shirt
Third Prize – Branded Rugby ball
Please note that teams have not been announced. Please make sure your selected players are indeed starting before selecting them for your side.
MIDWEEK MATCHES:
GAME ONE: Scotland vs Japan
I think the Scots will have too much for Japan and should win by a reasonable margin. I understand that Japan beat the Springboks over the weekend but I just feel that the victory could have come at a cost and the Scots will have to much.
Superbru Score Prediction: Scotland by 15
Tipped Fantasy Players
Scotland
Richie Gray: Lock
Gray has been one of the work horses in the Scottish pack for the past couple of years. He should do well against Japan.
John Hardie: Backrow
Hardie has an extremely high work rate. I expect the flanker to have a massive game against Japan.
Stuart Hogg : Fullback
The Glasgow Warriors full-back is versatile, confident under the high ball and a fine and elusive runner from deep. It is down to whether Scotland can use him.
Greig Laidlaw : Scrum-half
A scrumhalf who kicks for goal, surely a decent fantasy option. Laidlaw should have a good game against the Japanese, BUT he has Henry Pyrgos pushing hard for his number 9 jersey.
Japan:
Michael Leitch : Backrow
Had a fantastic game against the Springboks. If Japan can cause another upset they will require Leitch to have a massive game once again.
Ayumu Goromaru: Fullback
Man of the match against the Boks, if this can continue against the Scots he should do well for you. The full-back also kicks for poles which increases his fantasy value if he is selected for your side as you can select him as your kicker. I personally wont be selecting him , but I might when Japan play the USA.
GAME TWO: France vs Romania
Folks im afraid that this is going to be one way traffic. France should dominate this game.
Superbru Score Prediction: France by 40-60 points
Note: Any French player you select should do well for you in this game. Fill your boots!
Tipped Fantasy Players:
France
Freddy Michelak : Flyhalf
Against Romania Michelak should rack up the points for your Fantasy side.
Thierry Dusitoir : Backrow
Against a amateur outfit such as Romania , players like Dusitoir will stand out and have a big game. A certain fantasy option! Overlook Dusitoir at your own perril.
Wesley Fofana : Center
If he starts this match, Fofana will be a must have. He has electrifying pace and could be a valuable asset to your side.
Romania
None
GAME THREE: Australia vs Fiji
This should be a decent match. I didnt think Fiji were bad at all against the English however I feel that Australia are a dark horse at the tournament and should win comfortably.
Superbru Score Prediction: Australia to win by 12 points.
Tipped Fantasy Players:
Australia
Will Skelton : Lock
Big Will had an extremely impressive Super Rugby campaign for the Waratahs. There are not many locks with fantasy points potential BUT Skelton is certainly one that does.
Matt Giteau: Center
Class is permanent, the man can still light up the Australian backline !. A certain fantasy selection as he might (though there is major competition) kick for goal in this match.
David Pocock: Flank
One of the best flankers in world rugby. Pocock also claims the maul and in effect, scores a heck of a lot of tries. If you dont have Pocock you will not enjoy watching this game!
Fiji
Nemani Nadolo : Wing
I believe that Nadolo will have another massive game against the Australians. Many of the Aussies will still be "poep-scared" (as they say in South Africa) of the flying Fijian winger who gave many of the Australian rugby player nightmares in Super Rugby earlier this year.
Nikola Matawalu: Scrumhalf
Matawalu was a live wire in the opening match. Certainly a decent option to slot into your fantasy side.
MATCH FOUR: New Zealand vs Namibia
Cricket score in this one? Possibly not… Namibia have some decent player and should at least be competitive up front. New Zealand will definitely win this match but I dont think it will be over 100 points like some people may think.
Superbru Score Prediction:
New Zealand to win by 45 points
Tipped Fantasy Players:
Nehe Milner-Skudder : Wing/Fullback
After a disapointing display against Argentina , Milner-Skudder will bounce back and have a blinder!
Beauden Barrett : Flyhalf
I think Barrett will start this match , while DC gets a breather. Barrett is the future of New Zealand rugby and one of the greatest players to watch when he is on song.
Malakai Fekitoa & Sonny Bill Williams : Center
Look, again I think these two will start and Nonu and Smith will be rested. Both SBW and Fekitoa had extremely impressive Super Rugby campaigns and if they indeed do start Namibia will have their hands full.
Note: Any New Zealand player you select will do well for you in this match
Nambia:
Torsten Van Jaarsveld : Hooker
Van Jaarsveld was a regular for the Cheetahs in Super Rugby. He is a solid hooker who will always give you a strong game.
Jacques Burger : Backrow
Burger is a key player for the Saracens in the UK and will lead from the front for Namibia. If there is to be an upset here Burger will have to put in one hell of a game.
OVER TO THE RUGBY365.COM LOG!
Fantasy League: Rugby365.com
Currently our four managers in the Fantasy League are:
1st: 259 Points: GameBreaker01's Merry Challengers: Managed by Kashief Essop
2nd: 226 Points: bchanakira2's Rad Dogs: Managed by Benedict Chanakira
3rd: 198 Points: Hotsport : Managed by Stephan Le Roux
4th: 195.5 Points: Jan Rap en sy Maats: Managed by Wesley Sapto
Please note that round one for the Fantasy league is not yet completed! Round one is concluded after Australia and Fiji so a lot can still change!
Prediction League:
JAN DE KONING! Rugby365.com's very own Jan De Koning is top of the log after round one! What a champion!
Currently our top four managers are:
1st: LionKing: managed by Jan De Koning
2nd: Matthew: managed by Matthew Graylin
3rd: crowdi: managed by Simon Croudace
4th: Big Bento: managed by Benito Williams
How do the Rugby365 staff compare in the Prediction League?
Jan (Team name LionKing) is currently in first postion. Andrew H (Team name The Pipers!) is in 11th position. Michael (Team name MdV) is 18th on the log. Tauriq (Team name Tommy Gun) is in 20th position. Warren (Team name Wayno) is way down in 78th position, while Marco (Team name … Marco) score of 7.00 suggests he will be between the position of 68th-100th after joining the league slightly late. Our Rugby365 combined team is in 37th position.
Think you can beat Jan De Koning and the rest of the Rugby365.com team ? Its not too late to join ! See below sign up details and join today!
We are running two leagues for the World Cup
The first of which is:
Fantasy Rugby World Cup League where you select players from various teams to make up your Fantasy side and then they are scored according to per. This takes some skill, but if you think you know your rugby I highly recommend you play!.
And the second is:
World Cup Predictor Pool: More laid back than the "Fantasy League" we encourage you to join us. This league is all about predicting what you think the scores will be and you guessed it… the person who gets the closest scores wins the league!.
How to sign up?
Head over to www.superbru.com and sign up for the Fantasy Rugby World Cup and the Rugby World Cup Predictor leagues under the rugby tab.
Join the following Rugby365.com leagues.
Fantasy Rugby World Cup League link: www.superbru.com/rwcfantasy
Join our pool with the following league code: impseery or simply select join league and search for rugby365 (no spaces)
Rugby World Cup Predictor League link: www.superbru.com/rwcpredictor
Join our pool with the following league code: lyrawise or simply select join league and search for rugby365 (no spaces)
By Andrew Howitt
Twitter: @ARHowitt12
@rugby365com
