So it’s Friday, which means two things. Firstly, the weekend has finally arrived, which means loads of rugby and maybe some form of cold beverage consumption. Secondly, it means that everybody will be making their fantasy league changes and SuperBru picks and maybe even risk a trade or two. Here is the breakdown of what is going on:
Sharks: As a result of the Springbok selections now being finalized, the likes of Pat Lambie and Odwa Ndungane who were ‘maybes’, are now out of contention for the rest of the season, so these will require trades. The team is pretty much back to full strength with the only concern for the managers being how the loose forwards will be rotate For those with Al Hargreaves in their squad, he has fallen out of the match 22 completely due to flu. Anybody with Adi Jacobs in the squad is encouraged to trade him as it looks like we will not see him play in the Sharks midfield until he is 38.
Lions: The Lions have had their fair share of injuries and with them doing so well, managers would be more inclined to trade in a Lions player, especially if there is a Bulls player that needs replacing. Elton Jantjies has returned after his stint with the Springboks, and will be racking up points. This has forced a few managers to trade in Burton Francis after he was the early season points machine. Doppies la Grange is also soon to be back in action and will play this week off the bench. The loose trio of Cobus Grobbelaar, Derick Minnie and Josh Strauss are a constant in this team and are good value for points.
Cheetahs: The Cheetahs seemed to have turned a corner in the competition and are climbing the log at a steady pace. They are also the only team who seem to put minnow teams away by scoring plenty of tries. Sias Ebersohn is in good kicking form and contributes if you have him as a halfback. Those that had Boom Prinsloo last week must have been smiling, but will rue the fact that he has now been dropped to the bench to accommodate Ashley Johnson. On the point of Johnson, this has given managers the green light to trade him in as he will not be heading to New Zealand.
Griquas: Now I am aware that there are not many people with tons of Griquas players in their teams, but there are a few good value picks to have in your squads. One of them is Captain Jonathan Mokuena, who scores a lot of points as captain. The backline is filled with the likes of Sarel Pretorius, Earl Rose, Riaan Viljoen and new kicking sensation Rudi Vogt.
Bulls: Now this is a team that chops and changes every week, so good luck having any Bulls player in your squad if this player is a fringe player. A lot of managers lost Francois Brummer to this constant experimentation and will have to rely on either him getting back in the team or having to trade him out. News broke yesterday that winger Bjorn Basson has picked up an injury, and Gerhard van den Heever replaces him. Janno Vermaak is a good solid choice and will always return points in the form of tries. Another injury that came through this week is Juandre Kruger who was a firm favourite with managers.
Western Province: The big scorer at Province at the moment is Demetri Catrakilis, who has slotted into this team and is now slotting kicks anywhere inside his own half. Nick Koster is back this week after being a late exclusion last weekend. Danie Poolman had fallen to the bench and is replaced by somewhat unknown Steven Hunt, a Bok Sevens player. Deon Fourie is not in the match 22 and Tiaan Liebenberg will lead the team from hooker.
If anybody can give any insight into the Leopards and Pumas teams and their changes, your help below will be greatly appreciated.
There might be one or 2 valuable players (read goal kickers) in the Pumas and Leopards teams, but the fact that they won’t win many games kind of makes them unprofitable.
@JarsonX (Comment 1) :
The smaller player base from next year will eradicate this problem..
It will also make the SuperBru so much more interesting, if you think about it..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : Definitely. LMS will also be more challenging.
“Anybody with Adi Jacobs in the squad is encouraged to trade him as it looks like we will not see him play in the Sharks midfield until he is 38.”
This situation is becoming extremely frustrating!
@Ben (Comment 4) :
Don’t tell me you had him in your squad?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : No I didn’t. Meant it from a supporter’s perspective. Not FL
@Ben (Comment 6) :
Oh right..
Yeah I agree, I think it’s time for Adi to move on to another union and play against us and score millions of tries..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) :
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : For his sake I hope he changes unions. Him and Doppies should make a good combination.
@Ben (Comment 9) :
Yeah, they can go win a World Cup for us..
Oh wait…..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 10) : They would make our 12 and 13 look like idiots. Meyer Bosman, Stefan Terblanche and Marius Joubert.
Cheers to the freaking weekend
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Oh let the Jameson sink in
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Don’t let the bastards (Peter De Villiers) get you down
Turn it around with another round (of rugby)
There’s a party at the bar (watching the rugby) everybody put your glasses up and
I drink to that (a Shark’s win), I drink to that (a Shark’s win), I drink to that (a Shark’s win)
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 12) :
I don’t appreciate our national coach being called a bastard, whether or not you rate him.
@Big Fish (Comment 13) : It is a song and a joke calm down, its Friday be happy
Does anyone have news on Andries Straus and for how long he will still be doing his disappearing act?
@Volstruis (Comment 15) :
No idea dude, sorry..
I made a bunch of trades leaving very few for the rest of the season but now having Boks in my team.
Joshua Strauss (In my Starting XV) has been ruled out of the clash with the Sharks this weekend.