Super Fantasy Rugger

With Super Rugby kicking off today, we’ve launched our very own Fantasy league. You can set up your own competition with friends, or join the public leagues, where we’ll be giving away spot prizes during the season. You can join at any time as we’ll be running both overall and weekly leagues. Sign up free at Fantasy Rugger.

The game has real time stats and facts on every player in Super Rugby & we’ll be writing up summaries each week giving you an insight into the top performers. Here are a few suggestions from our contributor Christopher Duffy:

Outside Back

The vast number of potent attacking threats across the Super Rugby competition makes this position extremely difficult to choose. The Kiwi sides are renowned for their lethal finishing on the wings and it is tough to look past the Chiefs, Damien McKenzie. He topped the stats in 2016 Super Rugby season for clean breaks, defenders beaten, metres gained, and carries alongside 3^rd place ranking for tries scored. Likely to be popular, he should still be well worth a place in the squad.

Centre

The Queensland Reds failed to find any form last season but the same cannot be said for some of their players. In a side that was struggling for consistency and form, Samu Kerevi stood out as an exceptional player. Despite the Reds failings, he managed to clock up some impressive statistics with 62 defenders beaten and 988 metres gained. All of this outside a pack that was struggling for momentum and a back line without leadership. Imagine what Kerevi can achieve this year playing on the shoulder of Quade Cooper and a forward pack marshalled by Stephen Moore and George Smith.

Flyhalf

Reliable goal kicker or try scoring machine? It’s hard to decide what to have in place at flyhalf. Thankfully the Barrett family of New Zealand created a rugby player capable of being precisely both of those things. If Beauden Barrett can continue the sensational form that saw the Hurricanes claim the title last season, then he will be a vital part of any team. Not to mention he was the top point score of 2016 with 223 points.

Scrumhalf

Looking around the competition, there are plenty of exceptional scrumhalves on show. One that may go under the radar due to injury is Martin Landajo. The Argentine 9 epitomises all that was great about the Jaguares in their opening season. He orchestrates their fast paced, free flowing game and is not shy when getting involved in the attack. Expect him to back all guns blazing in a few weeks once he recovers from injury.

Back Row

Ardie Savea would barge his way into most back rows, especially on the back of his performances last season. The Hurricanes flanker topped the tackling stats making a massive 205 tackles on his way to securing the Super Rugby trophy. Coupled with his attacking threat, Savea will once again be thrusting his name into the selection pot for the All Blacks this year. With it being a Lions Tour year, expect many of the Kiwis to be working harder to wear the New Zealand jersey in June.

Second Row

South Africa seems to have a production line of imposing second row players capable of dominating line outs and destroying opposition scrums. Pieter-Steph Du Toit will be joining his Springbok teammate Eben Etzebeth in the Stormers side. Either of these man mountains would be a worthy pick, but Du Toit edges it as he has a major point to prove that he can be consistently as good as Etzebeth. His line out presence (3^rd highest takes in 2016) is a vital cog in his development.

Hooker

Purely because he can’t be chosen in the outside backs, Dane Coles must be selected at hooker. Coles has revolutionised the position of hooker as he has pieced together the two composites that fans and coaches looked for. A strong set piece and a presence around the field. Coles can scrum, hits his line out throws and then sprints off to make metres with ball in hand and show a touch of razzle dazzle with sidestep and passes worthy of any player.

Prop

Best to make use of this prop before he boards the plane for France. Charlie Faumuina will compete in this Super Rugby season before heading off to the Top 14 and Toulouse. This devastating All Black can play both sides of the scrum, hits hard and makes metres. He will be a huge loss the Blues so utilise whilst he’s still a part of Super Rugby.

Hopefully this gives you some more ideas on selection for Super Rugby 2017 Fantasy Rugger. Follow us throughout the season for more tips on who to pick and see if you can beat my team.

Statistics courtesy of SANZAAR Rugby

You can also catch every single Super Rugby game this season live on RugbyPass.com across selected