Super Rugby Fantasy round five: Must-haves and avoids

Week five of Super Rugby Pacific Fantasy is upon us, and teams and managers are starting to understand how the game works.

It could be time to use one of your boosters, which you have the option of using once a season, as there are some favourable matchups this weekend.

As you can change all 15 of your players for each week this season, here are some more “Must haves” and “Avoids” for your team in round five of the competition. 

Must-haves

Sevu Reece – Crusaders – Price: $8.5m

The in-form Crusaders winger has started the campaign with a hiss and a roar, scoring a double last weekend at home against the Reds. Reece has impressed this season with his finishing ability and with time and space, there are not many more clinical wingers in the competition.

The All Black winger has a very good matchup this weekend against the Force at home, where the Crusaders will look to continue their good form against a slightly understrength Force side who are without Carlo Tizzano, Nic White and Ben Donaldson for the matchup in Christchurch.

Reece is one of the players who could be triple-captained this week if you feel like the Crusaders winger will be on the end of front foot ball at home.

Angus Bell – Waratahs – Price: $4.5m

Bell was back at his destructive best against the Force last weekend in Sydney, picking up 12 points from scrums won outright, 12 points from defenders beaten and 11 points from his successful tackles.

The Waratahs front row matchup this weekend against the Reds will be key in keeping the Sydney-based side’s 100 per cent win rate so far this Super Rugby Pacific season, something that they won’t want to let up against their Australian rivals.

Bell will be busy in Brisbane on Saturday evening, likely securing your team a solid 20-35 points, which as a prop, is considered a steady score.

Cameron Roigard – Hurricanes- Price: $7.5m

The All Blacks halfback managed to get 39 points off the bench last weekend against Moana Pasifika in Albany, showcasing how important he is to have in your fantasy teams going forward.

Roigard is one of the only halfbacks this year in Super Rugby Fantasy to have scored consistently over the course of the first four rounds and as he will start this weekend against the Highlanders in Dunedin, it’s hard to go past the Hurricanes halfback.

Roigard is what many people will consider a “set and forget” player in their teams, so as long as he’s in the starting lineup, he’s safe to have in your team in each round.

Honourable mentions: Will Jordan (CRU), Fraser McReight (RED), Damian McKenzie (CHI).

Avoids

Josh Canham – Reds – Price: $4.5m

Despite Canham being exceptional last weekend against the Crusaders in Christchurch, a breakout game like that is hard to back up and will be especially hard to back up in a tough matchup against the Waratahs.

Canham’s score in the first two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific is a more accurate representation of Canham’s scoring ability this season. With Fabian Holland back in action this weekend as well as Tupou Vaa’i catching some form for the Chiefs, there are multiple better options in the lock position this week.

Jacob Devery – Hurricanes – Price: $3.5m

The young Hurricanes hooker has been a shining light this year for the Hurricanes despite an average start to the season. With All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua back on the bench this week, we can expect Devery’s usage to slowly decrease going forward.

Although he is on the avoid list this week, Devery does have the ability to score well in Dunedin this weekend against the Highlanders, but you would have to feel strongly about his chances to score a try to go with him.

Aumua will likely be thrown into the game with 20-30 minutes left in the match on the weekend, which slightly hinders Devery’s upside this week. With options like Billy Pollard from the Brumbies and Codie Taylor against the Force, Devery is not the answer this week.

Honourable mentions: Christian Lio-Willie (CRU), Mark Telea (BLU, 28 per cent owned!).

Note: Moana Pasifika players are unavailable to pick on Super Rugby Fantasy due to their round five bye.

Here are the specific performance scoring categories:

Playing 1-60 minutes: 1 point

Playing 61+ minutes: 2 points

For each try: 15 points

For each try assist: 9 points

For each conversion: 2 points

For each missed conversion: -1 point

For each penalty goal: 3 point

For each missed penalty: -1 point

For each drop goal: 3 point

For each missed drop goal: -1 point

Yellow Card: -5 points

Red Card: -10 points

For each turnover forced: 4 points

For each interception: 5 points

For each lineout won on own throw: 1 point

For each lineout steal on the opponent throw: 5 points

For each lineout error (includes handling error, not straight or lost outright): -2 points

For each tackle made: 1 point

For each tackle missed: -1 point

For each defender beaten: 2 points

For each offload: 2 points

For each line break: 7 points

For each line break assist: 5 points

For every 10 metres gained: 1 point

For each penalty conceded: -1 point

For each error (knock on or forward pass): -1 point

For scrum won outright (awarded to entire front row): 3 points