It’s squeaky bum time as far as The Irish Times Fantasy Rugby League is concerned, with managers set to live and die by the calls they make this weekend.
So, the Six Nations didn’t turn out as planned, but put aside thoughts about an underperforming and often unlucky Irish side and the prospect of a no more than functional English outfit winning a Grand Slam because there are serious Fantasy Rugby matters at hand.
If the situation in the JOE League is anything to go by, there’s a good chance that the situation is arse-clenchingly tight in your own private league, meaning that the tiniest of detail, whether it’s one transfer or the selection of one kicker instead of another, could make all the difference this weekend.
So who’s likely to make that difference? If we deal with our own lads first, sad and all as it is to contemplate, Saturday’s game could be Brian O’Driscoll’s last in an Irish jersey and wouldn’t it be fitting if he marked the occasion with either a try, a man of the match display, or both?
Outside of the great BOD, Conor Murray’s form means it wouldn’t be a surprise if he picks up a second man of the match award on the trot, Jamie Heaslip was back amongst the points last week and with Jonathan Sexton out, it will be up to Paddy Jackson to dictate matters from out-half.
Italy haven’t beaten us in the Six Nations yet, but they’ve gone pretty damn close to doing so and in Alessandro Zanni, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean and the irrepressible Sergio Parisse, they have players who could hurt Ireland and pile up some Fantasy Rugby points while they’re at it.
Moving on, normally France would be a banker to beat Scotland on their own turf but you just don’t know with Philippe Saint-André’s outfit, who have taken the stereotype about France being erratic and basically took the p*ss with it.
Unlike Freddie Michalak, who starts again out-half, you can set your watch by Louis Picamoles at number eight, while the monstrous Mathieu Bastareaud could be a good bet to batter his way through the Scottish rearguard for a try or an assist.
For the Scots, it is the same names that keep popping up again and again, names like second-highest points scorer in the competition so far (provided you had him selected as kicker, of course) Greig Laidlaw, Stuart Hogg, whose form Rob Kearney might be a little concerned as far as the Lions Tour is concerned and the second-row pairing of Jim Hamilton and Richie Gray.
For the final game of the weekend, meanwhile, if you think that the Welsh will spoil England’s Grand Slam party then you’re as well placing your trust in Rob Howley’s men, who need to win by at least seven points if they are going to retain their title.
Alex Cuthbert has scored two tries in the competition to date, but one this weekend would be particularly sweet
With seven to date, Wales have scored the most tries in the competition and Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny – who should be practically a shoo-in on every team anyway – seem the most likely of Wales’ talented backline to cross the whitewash given their form to date. Up front, meanwhile, Sam Warburton’s man of the match display against Scotland would have given him a fresh injection of confidence.
As for England, for all their victories they’ve only scored a single try since their first outing against Scotland, relying on the kicking of first Owen Farrell and then Toby Flood to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Farrell is back in the team to face Wales and the influential Joe Launchbury has also been passed fit, while Wales would be foolish to take their eyes off Manu Tuilagi at the Millennium Stadium.
Whatever happens on Saturday, there’ll be no Championship or no Triple Crown to look forward to and the prospect of being smacked with the wooden spoon remains an outside possibility, but if the breaks fall your way in The Irish Times Fantasy Rugby League, there is the chance of some slight consolation, and who knows, maybe even a few quid at your mates’ expense just in time for one of the biggest days of the year.
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