Best Players After Week Four

Top 20 Players - Average Points

OB Mitchell (AUS) - 390

LF Spies (SAF) - 378

FR du Plessis (SAF) - 328

HV M. Steyn (SAF) - 322

LF G. Smith (AUS) - 303

HV Donald (NZL) - 283
OB Sivivatu (NZL) - 275
LF McCaw (NZL) - 270

HV du Preez (SAF) - 267

CT Barnes (AUS) - 260

LK Sharpe (AUS) - 258

CT Nonu (NZL) - 242
CT C. Smith (NZL) - 237

LK Matfield (SAF) - 237

LF Kaino (NZL) - 232

HV Giteau (AUS) - 225

LK Ross (NZL) - 222

LF Brussouw (SAF) - 210

FR Mtawararia (SAF) - 193

FR Moore (AUS) - 185
FR Hore (NZL) - 185

Top 3 FRs - Average Points
FR du Plessis (SAF) - 328

FR Mtawararia (SAF) - 193

FR Moore (AUS) - 185, FR Hore (NZL) - 185

Top 3 LKs - Average Points
LK Sharpe (AUS) - 258

LK Matfield (SAF) - 237

LK Ross (NZL) - 222

Top 3 LFs - Average Points
LF Spies (SAF) - 378
LF G. Smith (AUS) - 303
LF McCaw (NZL) - 270

Top 3 HVs - Average Points
HV M. Steyn (SAF) - 322
HV Donald (NZL) - 283
HV du Preez (SAF) - 267

Top 3 CTs - Average Points
CT Barnes (AUS) - 260
CT Nonu (NZL) - 242
CT C. Smith (NZL) - 237

Top 3 OBs - Average Points
OB Mitchell (AUS) - 390
OB Sivivatu (NZL) - 275
OB Ashley-Cooper (AUS) - 183

Now that the All Blacks and Springboks have three games under their belts and the Wallabies have played two (though crucially, still none at home), the average point statistics are showing a truer reflection of who are the most valuable TR players in the 2009 Tri-Nations.

Some interesting and unexpected trends are developing. The LFs are the biggest earners on average and the sight of two first choice hookers propping up the bottom of the table and only two OBs in the entire top 20 is very strange - traditionally FRs and OBs are the best performing positions and the LFs one of the weakest. Also of note is the total absence from the top 20 of previous TR stalwarts like Habana, de Villiers, Mortlock, Frans Steyn, Muliaina, Palu, Rokocoko, Fourie, and Juan Smith. A lot of these guys are still fan-faves, as reflected in their prices, but players should perhaps think twice before picking them in the future.

Get Carter

Some bloke called Daniel Carter's been added to the All Blacks squad and he's back in the TR realm at a starting price of $1,167,500. He's certain to rise in value so if you've transfers to spare then buy him now. Even if he doesn't start a week on Saturday, you'll make a tidy profit in the interim.

Week Four Retrospective - Kynan

Predictions

Kynan - Boks by 20+. Spies top TR scorer.
Andrew - Boks by 7. Giteau top TR Scorer.

So they didn't win by 20+, but they really should have. The Boks were well on the road to a blow-out with a couple missed try scoring opportunities in the first half, before the Aussies really clamped down in the second half and kicked everything away, ruining any possibility of a spectacle. Their defense was awesome, and kudos to them for not throwing in the towel, even though the result was never in doubt.

Team Points

Kynan - 3,130 points
Andrew - 2,565 points

Thoughts

I don't know how this Bok team is going to be stopped. They are brutal at the breakdown and in defense, and the immense pressure they put on the oppostion just seems to cause them to implode. We've seen three games in a row now where the usually clinical Kiwis and Wallabies have just fallen to pieces. I thought NZ were just bad, but now I know it is just all down to pressure.

Did I mention I am number 8 in the world? I thought I'd just throw that out there for anyone who doubted my selections.

Don't forget to sell your South Africans. I'm sure their prices are way down already. There's a frustrating 2 week break now, before the Aussies get to try win a game (at home this time at least). I have already bought all my Kiwis. Money doesn't seem to be a problem anymore after my judicious trading in the first few rounds, but why risk it.

Here's a tip: Buy James O'Connor. My esteemed colleague, Andrew, picked that one and it certainly paid dividends - 350 points! As a sub!

Week Four: Dream Team

FR Bismarck du Plessis (SAF) - 370
FR John Smit (SAF) - 145

LK Victor Matfield (SAF) - 340
LK Nathan Sharpe (AUS) - 320

LF Pierre Spies (SAF) - 355
LF George Smith (AUS) - 280

HV Fourie du Preez (SAF) - 410
HV Morne Steyn (SAF) - 335

CT James O'Connor (AUS) - 350
CT Berrick Barnes (AUS) - 170

OB Drew Mitchell (AUS) - 340
OB Franscois Steyn (SAF) - 220

Total - 3,635