Guys, I couldn’t find a site running a Currie Cup Fantasy League competition, so I did what any half-competent web-site administrator would do; I decided to create my own.
So, a few general points. Obviously, this is a brand new competition format, so let’s consider this year’s Currie Cup as an “extended beta test”, to borrow a phrase from my day job. We’ll use the rules as laid out below for the duration of this season, then discuss how we can tweak the format for next year’s Super 14.
So, I wanted it to be simple. Low maintenance, both for those playing and (more importantly) for those administering it. In time, I will build all the groovy web pages to make it all work automatically, but for the first few weeks, there will be some manual steps involved. Here’s how it’s going to work:
You pick a squad of 26 players. Simple as that. Those 26 guys will see you right through the Currie Cup, so it’s pretty important that you get your initial selections spot on. Unlike other fantasy leagues, there won’t be much emphasis on chopping and changing your team as the season progresses – far too much admin involved. The idea is, pick a big squad initially and put a lot of thought into it, then sit back and see how your charges do over the course of the season. If a guy is out injured, that’s unfortunately just too bad. It’s going to happen to everyone in the competition at one stage or another. Likewise, if guys drop out to join the Boks, they won’t score you any points. Guys currently with the Boks may come back into the Currie Cup at some stage, meaning less game time for their understudies. All of these are factors to take into account when picking your 26.
So, we’ll allow a fair bit of flexibility in terms of the squad you choose. We will divide players into the following categories:
- Props (max 4 per squad)
- Hookers (max 3 per squad)
- Other Forwards (max 8 per squad)
- Halfbacks (max 4 per squad)
- Centres (max 4 per squad)
- Outside Backs (max 5 per squad)
Adhering to these maximum numbers will force you to pick a reasonably balanced squad, without being too prescriptive. You can have at most 13 backs, or at most 15 forwards, depending on what sort of team you’d like to have.
Now, points are awarded, each week, as follows:
| Player is named in the matchday 22 | 1 point |
| Player is on the winning side | 1 point |
| Player is in a team that draws | 0.5 points |
| Prop scores a try | 1.5 points |
| Any other forward scores a try | 1 point |
| Halfback or centre scores a try | 1 point |
| Outisde back scores a try | 0.75 point |
| Backline player kicks a penalty, conversion or drop goal | 0.5 points |
| Forward kicks a penalty, conversion or drop goal | 0.75 points |
| Player is yellow carded | -2 points |
| Player is red carded | -5 points |
| Player is captain of a winning team | 2 points |
| Player scores a hat-trick of tries | 3 points |
| Player converts 7 (or more) kicks at goal | 3 points |
In addition to that, we’ll have a number of bonus points that can be gained in any round, as follows:
| For every four tries scored by your side in one round | 1 point |
| Highest total score for the round | 5 points |
This will obviously only cover the Currie Cup Premier Division, so only players that represent one of the 8 unions playing in that competition are likely to score you any points. I have put up an initial list of players, along with their allocated positions here. Use that as a starting point, if you like, but you can pick players who aren’t on that list as long as you get them in the right position.
To enter, please send me an email containing your Sharksworld username and your 26 players. Send this to [email protected] and please send it from the email address we have on record here, just so I can be sure nobody is trying to do anything dodgy (not that any of you guys would). Once I receive your squad, I will assess it’s composition and come back to you in case you need to make any changes in line with the rules. This process will continue until the round 1 lock down, which will be at noon on Friday 20 June.
Entries will still be open after that point, for anyone who comes in late. We’ll assign a default score of 20 points per round to any late entrants, per round they have missed and do a hard cut-off after 5 rounds, or so.
So, that’s it! Hope you’re all keen to join in. Get those teams mailed in.
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This is gonna be a cracker!
This sounds good.
You will have my teams ASAP.
Good stuff… unfortunately I’ll be on the road for this and any of the other FL’s… bummer!
Morning!
NZ Maori 3
Tonga 3
after 35min
Epi Taione has still not recovered from his dropsies since the S14 semi! :shake:
We aren’t getting this live here in Aus unfortunately… must be brutal?
NZ Maori 13
Tonga 6
20min to go
Maori making loads of mistakes and Tonga giving it their all… BTW Marks is the ref so anything is possible 😉
NZ Maori 13
Tonga 9
15min to go
Epi doos Taione gets a yellow! Tongas 2nd yellow in the game
NZ Maori 20
Tonga 9
5min to go
Tonga could have won this game but their disciplin and fitness let them down 😕
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 3) : That’s the beauty. Once you’ve picked your squad, you don’t have to do anything else. Ever
Ahhhh… I’ll give it another read cheers…
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 10) : I know how much maintenance it takes to run a standard fantasy league team. It’s ridiculous
Sounds good rob. No limit on the number of players you can pick from one team then?
@blackshark (Comment 12) : nope. No player limits, no budgets… just good planning. No point in picking 26 guys from the same team, right?
Rob, what about the Man of the Match, how about 5 points to the M of M?
Its a spiFF idea
How about adding a coach with points for win, bonus points for winning with more than 20 points and negative points for lOOsing?
It will give options to add maybe strategy options later on – as your BigredO/ mySQl simulator starts hOOking up with veruscoStats, I presume
Once simulation has started- you can add some forecasting along S’Bru lines for additional points- it will however complicate the management of the team.
This should be good.
Hardest thing will be to decide from which email address I submit my team.
@Oranje Orakel (Comment 15) : OO…. I want to keep it simple for now, but your ideas are awesome. Maybe as we fine tune it during the course of this season, we can plan to incorporate more ideas like that.
HB – the MOM idea is a good idea
How about we add the following:
3 points for man of the match
2 extra points for captain of a winning team
3 points for a hat trick of tries to a single player in a single game
3 points for a player who converts 7 or more kicks at goal in a single game
HB, just thought of something. Do they always announce a man of the match? I don’t think so
@robdylan (Comment 19) :
could also maybe be an issue if you look at this weekend.
365 say Juan Smith was MOTM, Superrugby says nothing, we all believe it was Butch.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) : Just brought that up on the other thread. Ok, I think it’s safest to leave out the man of the match points. The other 3 okay?
yeah others look good.
How about an extra sweet bonus for the top try scorer and top points scorer at the end of the round robin?
One for the Epi fan club 😆
Controversial Tongan player Epi Taione will appear before an International Rugby Board (IRB) judicial officer on Sunday, after being cited for a dangerous tackle in the Pacific Nations Cup match between New Zealand Maori and Tonga at North Harbour Stadium in Albany on Saturday. 😆
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 24) : Was Strooli drunk when he signed this guy?
Epi needs help of the psychological variety.
Player is named in the matchday 22: 1 point……geez
Nice one rob, although i suspect you want to get this running sans to much admin or i suspect you will hear the howls of impatience.
As the Aussies are want to say…go you good thing
@Sauce (Comment 27) : There is just no way I can manage to collect as many stats as they do in the TestRugby competition, dude… I just don’t have that much time, or even access to all of the games. Remember, that not all CC games are televised.
Very good idea Rob and reasonable criteria considering the statistical limitations of the Currie Cup data and the variables with the player changes with the Bok team.
@Dive Pass (Comment 29) : So I take it you’ll enter? 😉
reason I ask is that I’m doing a farkload of Java coding that I could avoid if nobody wants to play 😉
@robdylan (Comment 31) :
As long as you have nice toys and your mommy bakes a nice cake, I always want to play at your house….
Luckily we are are playing in the pOOl- not the sandbox!
😈
@Dive Pass (Comment 32) : you just like my mommy… admit it! 😉
@Oranje Orakel (Comment 33) : it is going to be very much a sandbox! Experimental, in other words.
Dude, please go have a look at the player list and tell me if there’s anyone from your neck of the woods that I’ve left out?
I believe Darron nell is off to Europe- Nicky Steyn might get a chance
Also some okes might be bloembound from Europe. Will let you know as soon as I know!
@Oranje Orakel (Comment 35) : Nicky Steyn! PR would have a cadenza if I left him out!
Ashley Johnson
Jonathan Mokoena
both loose forwards, right?
yip
@Oranje Orakel (Comment 39) : sweet. The list on the page is currently static. Once I have the players correctly loaded into the database, I’ll change it to do a query. Then you’ll see the changes.
anybody online??
why hasnt the smitty issue been announced ??
this is taking far l;onger then published ???
does it mean it isnt a done deal at all ???
@sharks_lover (Comment 42) : chill. I believe it is confirmed. Adolf is just taking his time
Check this out:
http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_2339577,00.html
I might even think about picking him for my “fantasy team” I’m sure he’d score a couple.
Money, money, money……..yeeuch.
@molly (Comment 44) : why not?
@molly (Comment 44) : I have added him… unfortunately, since he wants to be a fullback, his tries will only count .75
Great job Rob – its really impressive that you put this together yourself.
@Big Fish (Comment 48) : the proof of the pudding is in the eating, young man. We’ll see how everyone feels about it once it’s over.
I’m sure they will be well-sated Don Roberto.
Really great job.
@Big Fish (Comment 50) : merci, mon ami
So are we allowed to pick ANY player?
Can we pick Boks as well if we feel they may play.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 52) : pick anyone you like. You can even pick players in the French Top 14 if you like 😉
@robdylan (Comment 53) :
😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 54) : it might costed you some points, though 🙂
My team is in.
GO Sandsharks!!!!!!!!
Ok The Country Couzins are selected and send in
Roll on DomestiCCtiFF 2008!
31 entries so far… hie komma ding!
Can I still make changes? I see Loffie isn’t playing Strydom so I need to pick someone else
@molly (Comment 44) : Maybe Nick Mullet will use him at No.10 in Italy’s WC squad.
@robdylan (Comment 58) : saam wie skut jy daar innie engeland?
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 59) : send me an email with a replacement
@robdylan (Comment 62) :
Thanks, I jumped at the opportunity and made 3 changes
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 63) : shhhh…. try not to set a precendent!
I’m in and the CoffeeshopBok dream team ROCKS !!!
Look out 😈
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 65) : Yeeha
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 65) : Try again, please 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 67) :
I really think it would be easier to make the number of players allowed 28 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 68) : Don’t even go there!
Can I see how our fantasy teams are doing yet?
@flop (Comment 70) : You can and you’ll be happy to know you’re in the lead! Just click on the ‘Fantasy League’ link in the menu on the left
Awesome, thanks robdylan. Many weeks left though.
@flop (Comment 72) : still, good start… hope you (and the mrs) can keep it up.
Conrad Burke looks to have been an inspired choice
Some interesting teams in amongst there… jeez Rob how are you tallying and imputing all these scores?
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 74) : I have designed it to be low maintenance. I only need about 5 stats on each player, all of which I can get from the match reports
@robdylan (Comment 75) :
What does your missus think about the low maintenance…lol!
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 76) : I believe in my right to invoke the fifth amendment! 🙂
when is the FL for the CC 2009 start, i havnt played it before so i dont wana rush with my selections
@JarsonX (Comment 78) : not for a long time 🙂