Fantasy Rugby: Last-minute changes keep eyes on prize

Aaron Cruden. Photo / Getty Images

Flexibility is built into this year’s Fantasy competition — right up until kickoff

With the first round of Dream Team Fantasy Rugby Championship upon us, Dr Stats has a few general tips on managing your team to help increase your chances of a successful season.

1. Trading is essential
While you can make unlimited trades on your initial team entry, you'll only be able to trade up to a maximum of three players after the conclusion of each round, with a maximum total of 15 trades available for the season. While most of your trades will likely be forced via injury or selection, it's best to strategise as well - South Africa's first two matches are against Argentina, so their attacking players may benefit hugely, but they then play away against the Wallabies and All Blacks, so slowly moving them out of your squad before then would be wise.

In a new feature for this game, you can make trades within your team right up until kickoff of the match each player is involved in. So if Aaron Cruden is injured in a pre-match warm-up, there's still time to trade him out for Colin Slade if you have a spare trade available.

2.Budget, budget, budget
You'll have a fantasy budget of $2 million for the season and you may spend that amount as you see fit, with no limit put on the number you can select from each team. You may want to monitor the latest news fairly carefully, as well as the player stats (published weekly online and in the Stats Centre) to ensure players are on form/not nursing injury etc.

Remember too there are some excellent players who aren't 'big names' that will provide great value for money.

Select your captain carefully as they are worth double points. Your vice capatin will take his place if they do not play in the fixture.

3. 2013 statistics
One of the best ways to guage a player's worth is to look back at how they performed last season. We display the average score each player recorded in 2013 beside their name when selecting your squad, so use this information as wisely.

Another interesting result of analysing last year's statistics is the make-up of an All-Star squad - made from the best players at each position based on 2013 fantasy performances.

Though the team is largely made up of New Zealand and South African players, there are more Argentinians than Australians and the list features many players who did not necessarily shine at Super Rugby level.

4. Team announcements
Players get injured in training, get cited for on and off field activity or are put on the bench or dropped for a plethora of reasons.

If you get a chance, remember to check final team lists prior to the kickoff of each game to make any last minute changes to your team.