Fantasy Super Rugby: Round 14 Preview

By Dr Stats

NZ Herald·

13 May, 2015 05:55 AM4 mins to read

An under-rated player like Elton Jantjies could be a difference-maker for your side over the next month of play. Photo / Getty Images.

This coming weekend is the last round in the season in which more than one side is on a bye and it's time to start cashing in on a settled side while you can.

With the Crusaders, Force and Stormers all on a bye this week, it signals the final round that Dream Team coaches go through extreme headaches.

After navigating this round, you'll have four rounds with which to take advantage of the unique properties and advantages that your side has over the rest of the pack.

Once those four rounds are over, we enter the finals stage of the competition in which coaches are allowed an unlimited number of trades each week during the Super Rugby playoffs.

While plenty of coaches out there own Julian Savea, Handre Pollard, Israel Folau, Waisake Naholo and Nemani Nadolo; it will be the unique and valuable players in our game that differentiate your team from the pack and open the door for you to jump up the rankings.

Below is a list of players in each position owned by under 10% of coaches who are in form and have the potential to be difference-makers for your side over the next month.

Tendai Mtawarira, Sharks, $69,800, FRF
The Sharks forward pack have been much more competitive and disciplined over the past month or so and The Beast has been in hot form for a front rower.

Eben Etzebeth, Stormers, $91,500, 2RF
He's on a bye this weekend but is a solid purchase for your side going forward as everyone else looks towards Sam Whitelock who he's averaging just 3.6ppg less than over his past five appearances.

Michael Leitch, Chiefs, $128,400, BRF
In the back row stocks only Ardie Savea has been in better fantasy form than Leitch over the past month. The Chiefs have a favourable fantasy schedule to end the season and Leitch should be solid as a rock.

Francois Hougaard, Bulls, $154,900, HFB
It may be too late to pick up Hougaard in most leagues as his value has sky-rocketed since Round 8. Still, he's owned in far few teams and will be a huge point of difference for you going forward if you can afford him.

Elton Jantjies, Lions, $166,400, FFE
Surprisingly, only Colin Slade and Beauden Barrett have been better fantasy first fives over the past month than Jantjies. The Lions are on a serious roll and the potential for them and Jantjies to keep rolling is huge as they remain on the continent for the rest of the season.

George Moala, Blues, $147,100, CTW
As predicted last week, Moala put up yet another big game against the Rebels and is likely to keep that momentum going as the Blues see out most of the year on New Zealand soil.

Israel Dagg, Crusaders, $185,100, FLB
Dagg carries much more risk than the above options, but the potential reward could be worth it. Dagg has averaged the most points per game of any fullback who's played more than three games this season and, with the Crusaders making yet another late finals run, he'll be desperate to contribute.

Get the latest fantasy advice from Dr Stats Thursdays at 6.25pm on Radio Sport with D'Arcy Waldegrave.

On the bench:
Keven Mealamu, Blues (benched)
Jimmy Cowan, Blues (benched/out 1 week)
Hayden Triggs, Blues (out 1-3 weeks)
Angus Ta'avao, Blues (dropped)
Tevita Li, Blues (dropped)
Melani Nanai, Blues (dropped)
Piet van Zyl, Bulls (out for season)
Jacques du Plessis, Bulls (benched)
JP Smith, Brumbies (benched)
Robbie Coleman, Brumbies (benched)
Matt Symons, Chiefs (out 1-3 weeks)
Tim Nanai-Williams, Chiefs (out 1-3 weeks)
Andrew Horrell, Chiefs (benched)
Joe Pietersen, Cheetahs (out 1-2 weeks)
Sarel Pretorius, Cheetahs (out 1-2 weeks)
Caylib Oosthuizen, Cheetahs (benched)
Waisake Naholo, Highlanders (out 1-2 weeks)
Kane Hames, Highlanders (out 2-3 weeks)
Tom Franklin, Highlanders (benched)
Dan Pryor, Highlanders (benched)
Matt Proctor, Hurricanes (dropped)
Chris Smylie, Hurricanes (benched)
Blade Thomson, Hurricanes (benched)
Chris Eves, Hurricanes (benched)
Courtnall Skosan, Lions (dropped)
Marnitz Boshoff, Lions (dropped)
Ross Cronje, Lions (benched)
Warwick Tecklenburg, Lions (benched)
Andries Ferreira, Lions (dropped)
Colby Fainga'a, Rebels (benched)
Tom English, Rebels (benched)
Nick Frisby, Reds (benched/out 1 week)
Anthony Fainga'a, Reds (out 1 week)
Jacques Potgieter, Waratahs (out 1-2 weeks)