Scrum Fantasy Rugby - World Cup

[juckster]

Did any of you top guys have AA Cooper ?

[Spencer4]

Did any of you top guys have AA Cooper ?

I'm not being very lucky with my Aussies, that's 4 in and 3 injured as Beale hobbles off. Thankfully he got a few points, but what could have been...

[Chuck Taylor]

After Australia v USA

1 Chuck Taylor Russell Cane Mother Hakas 27 13 315 (6th overall)
2 Mr Green Matt Sims Read It And Weepu 18 14 268
3 Spencer4 Julian Ravilious The Cat & Pigeon 22 11 267
4 Zoolander Paul Stringer Mogwai 19 16 263
5 Nabby Phil Dines Lily 19 15 262
6 topspur paul branigan Odd shaped ball boys 17 17 259
7 juckster Justin Johnson Here For Beer 16 18 257
8 bossdrum Oscar Deacy Time for Trumpton 16 18 247
9 steve foster steve foster fozzies 17 12 246
10 scopsm Paul McGeoghan Donegal Irish 16 10 228

[juckster]

Yeh, seems like everyone below me had AA Cooper, but not you guys at the top.

That's really squeezed the table

[Nabby]

once the Irish team was announced overnight and BOD wasn't even on the bench it made my mind up to go A A-C - picking these Centres masquerading as wingers is proving fruitful, whatl with Kahui doing the business as well.

[Nabby]

I see the 4th round of games as the round where least transfers need to be used, I'm hoping those at the top continue their 5 per round rate and waste plenty in the 4th round as I see little value there.

The guy leading the overall has a good lead but has used 14 transfers. one left this round which he may use on Wales tomorrow, so 5 or 6 going into the 4th round and beyond. He has 3 players that look likely to be knocked out + Kahui is out of the AB game v Canada next week. He also has 3 Aussies and 2 S Africans, who are on a collision course for the quarters. I'd say he is running a bit low. 4th round will sort out a lot I think.

[juckster]

Anyone have Scott Williams this morning ?

[Chuck Taylor]

Top 10 after Wales v Namibia

1 Chuck Taylor Russell Cane Mother Hakas 31 15 358 (21st overall)
2 Nabby Phil Dines Lily 26 19 342 (71st overall)
3 Zoolander Paul Stringer Mogwai 26 20 331
4 Spencer4 Julian Ravilious The Cat & Pigeon 26 16 328
5 topspur paul branigan Odd shaped ball boys 23 20 323
6 Mr Green Matt Sims Read It And Weepu 21 18 315
7 bossdrum Oscar Deacy Time for Trumpton 20 23 306
8 scopsm Paul McGeoghan Donegal Irish 20 17 301
9 juckster Justin Johnson Here For Beer 18 19 296
10 tenpinterry terry knapton Duke Nukem RFC 21 17 291

and the amateur finally begins to be reeled in, who was I kidding that this would last

[Nabby]

21st overall Chuck, hardly an amateur. So far you've played a fantastic game, up to 3rd a one point. All to play for I think. Good luck!

[Tacalabala]

Yeah, you're still in with a big big shout of the overall, don't give up Chuck. Remember the Under 21s

[Chuck Taylor]

Of course I won't give up but looking at my team, looking at the points gap between myself and the top lot and looking at my transfer usage with those that have made 3/4 less transfers gaining on me I'm just being realistic, I peeked too early.
Before the WC kicked off I would have been chuffed with a top 1,000 place of 70k in a game I know nowt about so whatever happens I'd have done well as top 1k is a given.
The plan is still set and will be seen through to the finish.

[Nabby]

No Nonu, Jane or Kahui for the All Blacks, but Dagg and Carter are in as is SBW. Lots of dilemmas not least whether to break with my tactic of only switching around the backs by bringing in Samo. time to mull.

[Nabby]

Carter and McCaw out tomorrow - 2nd time they've been pulled out after the teams announced, although Carters injury doesnnt look good.

[grob]

Carter's possibly out of the tournament - a statement's due in the next 24 hours - a huge blow to all of us with him after he'd taken over the captaincy when McCaw withdrew.

At least we can change kickers on Sunday,but only after the NZ v Canada game from which many of us were hoping for a decent points haul to compensate us for the last game he missed at the last minute.

It's so frustrating when a player goes down in training as Carter did when his groin went while he was running,and as such incidents can prove make or break in an FF competition like this, I think the rules should be changed to allow kicker changes in such circumstances.

[Spencer4]

Carter's been a nightmare in this hasn't he, That's twice now most of us will have had a non-playing kicker.

Don't trust that Slade bloke either, maybe time for Jonny

[Zoolander]

D.Mitchell (Aus) and F.Steyn (SA) both very popular picks are reportedly out of the tournament. With Carter, McCaw, Jane and Kahui also out for the All Blacks then the teams who've kept a few transfers back could be laughing.

[Nabby]

Carter's been a nightmare in this hasn't he, That's twice now most of us will have had a non-playing kicker.

Don't trust that Slade bloke either, maybe time for Jonny

My team is up to 27th and with a few transfers in hand and holding Carter over Steyn I'd hoped to make significant ground on the leaders tomorrow. That was the plan.
I hope Carter proves to be ok for the rest of the tournie - it would be a shame if he pulls out.

[THEWISEONE]

I think the winner will come from the top 5 or 6 teams with the current leader the favourite, even without many transfers. I am in 13th place (419pts) with 5 transfers left but don't hold out much hope. After the last group games tomorrow the games will be much tighter and fewer tries means less chance of high scoring rounds.

[Tacalabala]

I must admit that my interest has waned as I'm effectively fighting only to not finish off with the wooden spoon. But I won't give up - I have plenty of transfers left to craft my team for the quarter finals and beyond.

PS I heads up would be nice though

[grob]

I think the winner will come from the top 5 or 6 teams with the current leader the favourite, even without many transfers. I am in 13th place (419pts) with 5 transfers left but don't hold out much hope. After the last group games tomorrow the games will be much tighter and fewer tries means less chance of high scoring rounds.

Is the current leader your brother,son,uncle,nephew or father out of curiosity ? shame he doesn't belong to Fiso.

[THEWISEONE]

Nephew, but I suspect it is his dad assisting him with transfers etc. I could be wrong but from what I know of my nephew he is more interested in going to the pub than studying Rugby form.

I did not realise their was a FISO league and I had missed the cut off point when I tried to join.

[Nabby]

If I were a betting man I'd bet against the leader, although he does have a good lead. He's got 3 transfers left and 4 players who will not play again after tomorrow either due to being in a team going home already or injured. And that doesn't include Kahui, who is out of tomorrows game. He will also lose 3 when SA take on Aus, assuming Ireland do their bit tomorrow. He has very little coverage tomorrow so will either use his last 3 transfers bringing in ABs or he may find people are a lot closer to him after tomorrow. It will be interesting - personally I think the winner will come from outside the top 5.

[Spencer4]

Carter out for whole tournament it's now reported.

[grob]

I heard that was likely on Radio 5 Live between 5.30 am and 6.am this morning. I was torn - I wanted badly to go back to sleep,but I just had to get up to check when I'd be able to change my kicker - just in case it was before one of this morning's games.
I ascertained it wasn't possible before Sunday but the sunrise was so breathtakingly beautiful that I soaked it up and never went back to bed.
I'm not even in contention for anything

[topspur]

Carter's been a nightmare in this hasn't he, That's twice now most of us will have had a non-playing kicker.

Don't trust that Slade bloke either, maybe time for Jonny

My team is up to 27th and with a few transfers in hand and holding Carter over Steyn I'd hoped to make significant ground on the leaders tomorrow. That was the plan.
I hope Carter proves to be ok for the rest of the tournie - it would be a shame if he pulls out.

Assume you're Phil - great Guildford pick must put you right in the mix and surely sews up the FISO league. Think bringing in oconnor as well as a FH is the call to give an extra kicking option - certainly worked for me in the last round. had hoped to catch you but just eating dust now !

Transfers less important - as long as you have 15 fit players. all the big scores have been posted and the matches will much lower scoring surely.Its about points on the board now.

[Nabby]

Thanks.
Yes went Guildford as a sh*t or bust to move up the overall table. Everyone else went Dagg. I know Guildford prob won't play next round but the move was always to then shift out Guildford and bring in Bowe who now plays 2 before the ABs play again (I hope!). 5 transfers left, one needed for Carter. My biggest downer has come from picking the old boys Mccaw and Carter from the off. Should have known they would be prone to more rest/injury than some of the others - Kaino and Vito scored well today and are popularish picks.

[Chuck Taylor]

FISO Top 10 before the Quarters

1 Nabby Phil Dines Lily 38 25 465 (9th overall)
2 Chuck Taylor Russell Cane Mother Hakas 37 16 423
3 topspur paul branigan Odd shaped ball boys 31 21 416
4 Zoolander Paul Stringer Mogwai 31 20 401
5 bossdrum Oscar Deacy Time for Trumpton 29 28 399
6 Mr Green Matt Sims Read It And Weepu 28 19 393
7 Spencer4 Julian Ravilious The Cat & Pigeon 32 16 389
8 Takeshi Kovacs Chris Richards JOCI Club 29 15 379
9 juckster Justin Johnson Here For Beer 24 20 361
10 mrgrimble Graham Willmott Hills Fush & Chups 26 21 356

Big well done to Nabby so far

[Nabby]

Cheers Chuck.
Think I am leading Spencer4 on the transfer count rule too.

[Nabby]

Looking at the leaderboard if Australia and Wales go home this weekend the top 10 could struggle. There is a lot of coverage across those teams in the backs of the leaders and with not too many transfers left it could be decisive. Having said that the leader has got a nice cushion and will be difficult to catch - France going home this week will hurt him though.
Gutted Kaino got the motm on Sunday when Guildford scored 4 tries and 3 assists - although Kaino has been impressive this WC. That cost me a 10 point swing on the leader and will need a lot of luck to have any chance now.

[juckster]

All the best though Nabby - would be nice to have a FISO winner.

There is still plenty of time though for a few of us to challenge.