Super Rugby: Team of Round 20
The Super Rugby quarter-finals played out in a relatively predictable fashion as the Hurricanes defeated the Chiefs (admittedly by just a single point in the end), the Crusaders beat the Sharks, the Waratahs made an impressive comeback to sneak past the Highlanders and the Lions ensured the Jaguares' impressive season went no further than the Last 8. In our predictor game, the least expected result of the four was the Waratahs' win though there were still 39% of players that correctly picked the Australian side.
Things were a little more tricky in our fantasy game this week though. The community average dropped from 193.5 in Round 19 to 190.3 in Round 20 and the Team of the Round shows a few names that aren't in too many fantasy teams. Here is the theoretical best XV you could have selected:
As you can see, somewhat incredibly, this week's ideal captain was Lions hooker Malcolm Marx! It's very rare to have a front row player take the captaincy but such was the level of Marx's performance in that 40-23 win over the Jaguares. The South African racked up 26 points in total, including 5 points for his try, 6 for ball carries, 4 for turnovers and 3 for tackles. It's no surprise that 47% of you had selected the hooker with 62 more points than any other so far this season!
The surprise players in this XV that had been selected by far fewer brus than Marx don't come much rarer than Braydon Ennor who scored 22 fantasy points in this round despite starting on the bench for the Crusaders in their clash with the Sharks. Ennor had only featured five times this season ahead of this game, and all five of those appearances had also been from the bench.
Another player who had been a stranger to the TOTR is Hurricanes lock Michael Fatialofa who was selected by just 1% of brus. Sam Lousi is the much preferred Hurricanes lock (picked by 14%) but it was Fatialofa who managed the slightly higher score this week thanks to making so many tackles. A tough semi-final against the Crusaders is next for the 'Canes meaning Fatialofa's popularity is perhaps unlikely to increase despite this TOTR appearance.
As for the best score managed by a Superbru fantasy player this week, well done to Jacques De vos from South Africa who managed an incredible 287.5 points! Jacques' team can be seen below and it includes two genius managerial decisions to captain Marx and make Foley kicker just as the TOTR shows is perfect!
How did you get on personally in Round 20? Feel free to let us know about your round total and planned changes for the semi-finals in the comments.
Things were a little more tricky in our fantasy game this week though. The community average dropped from 193.5 in Round 19 to 190.3 in Round 20 and the Team of the Round shows a few names that aren't in too many fantasy teams. Here is the theoretical best XV you could have selected:
As you can see, somewhat incredibly, this week's ideal captain was Lions hooker Malcolm Marx! It's very rare to have a front row player take the captaincy but such was the level of Marx's performance in that 40-23 win over the Jaguares. The South African racked up 26 points in total, including 5 points for his try, 6 for ball carries, 4 for turnovers and 3 for tackles. It's no surprise that 47% of you had selected the hooker with 62 more points than any other so far this season!
The surprise players in this XV that had been selected by far fewer brus than Marx don't come much rarer than Braydon Ennor who scored 22 fantasy points in this round despite starting on the bench for the Crusaders in their clash with the Sharks. Ennor had only featured five times this season ahead of this game, and all five of those appearances had also been from the bench.
Another player who had been a stranger to the TOTR is Hurricanes lock Michael Fatialofa who was selected by just 1% of brus. Sam Lousi is the much preferred Hurricanes lock (picked by 14%) but it was Fatialofa who managed the slightly higher score this week thanks to making so many tackles. A tough semi-final against the Crusaders is next for the 'Canes meaning Fatialofa's popularity is perhaps unlikely to increase despite this TOTR appearance.
As for the best score managed by a Superbru fantasy player this week, well done to Jacques De vos from South Africa who managed an incredible 287.5 points! Jacques' team can be seen below and it includes two genius managerial decisions to captain Marx and make Foley kicker just as the TOTR shows is perfect!
How did you get on personally in Round 20? Feel free to let us know about your round total and planned changes for the semi-finals in the comments.
Barney
43,098 caps
Only managed 246,5. Jacques' choices to make Marx captain and Foley kicker are simply unbelievable. If Rassie does not shape up, we need to get this guy to at least select the Springbok team! Well done Jacques. Tough choices for the coming week - will the Lions make it? Who will play the Crusaders in the finals?
23 Jul 12:44
Report
Prowler
24,526 caps
I'm not so sure the Crusaders will be there. If there is one team that can beat them, it's the 'Canes. I think they were the last team to beat the Crusaders in Christchurch and one of only two teams to have beaten them this year. I doubt it will happen, but I won't be overly surprised to see a Waratahs vs. Hurricanes final. 24 Jul 03:38
Report
Barney
43,098 caps
I think the Waratahs will get an early yellow card and then it is the end for them. 26 Jul 07:48
Report
Deemore
18,693 caps
I would love to see the Lions vs Hurricanes but Crusaders are animal they will play against Lions end of the road for Waratahs
24 Jul 14:38
Report
Jersey-puller
32,790 caps
So many lucky tries. Many leading brus were equally let down so those in mid table or lower benefited. Savea and those 2 intercepts! Foley getting TWO tries! Worst of all Tamanivalu off injured very early and Ennor getting tries and points he probably would have got. Similar with Taufua's 65 min sub Samu vs a tiring Sharks defence. Big points regulars seemed to be double teamed helping those around them like Havili & Crotty. Yeah I had Bridge (Capt!) & Goodhue. So only 6 transfers allowed who dumped Canes & Tahs? Some might not have 15 for the semis?
24 Jul 15:44
Report
janhb
587 caps
I also think it's the end of the road for the waratahs but the crusaders and hurricanes game will be the game of the season the crusaders the better team but the canes can well have the upper hand which makes it the hardest selection
26 Jul 09:05
Report
