Week Five: Andrew's Team

* New buys in italics

FR Stephen Moore (AUS) - $1,167,500
FR Andrew Hore (NZL) - $1,150,000

LK Nathan Sharpe (AUS) - $1,205,000
LK Isaac Ross (NZL) - $715,000

LF Richard McCaw (NZL) - $1,240,000
LF George Smith (AUS) - $1,207,500

HV Daniel Carter (NZL) - $1,257,000
HV Matt Giteau (AUS) - $1,295,000

CT Berrick Barnes (AUS) - $1,245,000
CT James O'Connor (AUS) - $845,000

OB Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZL) - $1,222,500
OB Drew Mitchell (AUS) - $1,250,000

Team Value: $13,800,000
Cash in Bank: $751,000

For the first time in the competition, I'm looking at my teamsheet thinking that this could be the highest scoring possible combination of players. Money's less of an issue this far into the tournament, so I was able to get all the players I wanted, regardless of price - and with both team's fielding strong line-ups most of the names chose themselves: McCaw, George Smith, Sivivatu, Ross, Hore. and, of course, Carter. I have a nagging feeling that Elsom will outscore Smith, but probably there won't be too much between them. Looking ahead, transfers are going to be tight for the next couple of weeks, so I chose Wallabies where I could - swapping the injured Mortlock (who has been an albatross round my neck this year - good riddance, Stirling) for alliterative action man Berrick Barnes and plumped for the precocious O'Connor instead of reliable old Conrad Smith.

Remember the All Blacks have a bye next week, so make sure to sell them when the round locks. Good luck!