Week Two: Kynan's Team

* New buys in italics

FR Kevin Mealamu (NZL) - $1,080,000
FR Bismarck Du Plessis (SAF) - $1,165,000

LK Isaac Ross (NZL) - $740,000
LK Victor Matfield (SAF) - $1,202,500

LF Pierre Spies (SAF) - $1,185,000
LF Kieren Read (NZL) - $882,500

HV Ruan Pienaar (SAF) - $1,127,500
HV Stephen Donald (NZL) - $1,012,500

CT Ma’a Nonu (NZL) - $1,202,500
CT Jean De Villiers (SAF) - $1,225,000

OB Franscois Steyn (SAF) - $1,162,500
OB Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZL) - $1,180,000

Team Value: $13,165,000
Cash in Bank: $32,500

Cory Jane's benching threw my entire team selection into disarray, causing me to select 2 benched players, instead of just keeping the benched Cory Jane... but there is some method to my madness.

First off, I dropped Hore for Mealamu, even though Hore is the starting player. Why? Because Mealamu scored more points last week, despite playing off the bench, and he is South Africa's nemisis. He almost ALWAYS seems to be burrowing in for tries, and with the reversion to the old laws, I'm expecting some second half mauls in SA's 22 - cue Kevin Mealamu.

Second, I dropped McCaw for Read. This was madness. I never should have done it. I should have kept McCaw and Jane, and sacrificed Franscois Steyn. I would go back and correct my mistake, but I'm worried about transfers... I only have 7 left for 2 rounds. So now, I have to hope for an injury or shocking performance from one of the NZ loosies causing Read to make an early entrance, or a shear blinder from Steyn in which he scores 500+ TR points to make up for the missing McCaw... I'm an idiot, but it could pay off. GO FRANSCOIS! I'm your biggest fan!

Everyone else pretty much picks themselves. I vascillated between Pienaar and Du Preez, and Fourie instead of De Villiers... they all good picks. Hopefully I made the right ones.