Week Five: Andrew's Team

THE ORCADIANS - Facebook S14

*New buys in italics

FR Ti'i Paulo (CRU) - $1,145,000
FR Stephen Moore (BRM) - $1,107,500

LK Andries Bekker (STM) - $1, 325,000

LK Nathan Sharpe (FOR) - $1,025,000

LF Rocky Elsom (BRM) - $1,240,000

LF Liam Messam (CHF) - $1,187,500

HV Daniel Carter (CRU) - $1,327,500

HV Morne Steyn (BUL) - $1,392,500

CT Adam Ashley-Cooper (BRM) - $1,315,000

CT Wynand Olivier (BUL) - $1, 360,000

OB Lelia Masaga (CHF) - $1,185,000

OB Sitiveni Sivivatu (CHF) - $1,202,500

Team Value: $14,812,500

Cash in Bank: $5,150

With one exception, I'm feeling very happy about the look of my team this week. I made four transfers. The first, Morne Steyn, was made as soon as the last round locked. His price has risen a ridiculous $400,000 since then, reflecting his position (thus far at least) as the one player you simply must have in your team to be competitive this season.

I decided to grit my teeth and plump for Wynand Olivier - after his price had risen so outrageously, unfortunately. He's the top performing centre, but I was severely tempted to buy James O'Connor, who, despite playing for a losing team, has been earning excellent points at only a fraction of the cost. If the Bulls were up against someone more formidable than a Cowanless and much-changed Highlanders lineup, I might have chosen otherwise, but surely Olivier's a good bet to continue his one-try-per-game habits for another week.

I've decided to ditch Michael Paterson. Too hasty? Possibly. But the weeks where he racked up serious points saw him playing in the backrow. Last week he was at lock and earned a big fat zero and he's in the same position this week. I his stead, I chose Nathan Sharpe (somewhat recklessly before the Force lineup was announced), whose currently about the same price. Sharpie's the third best scoring on lock on average, and (just like the aforementioned O'Connor) doing sterling work in a lost cause with the Western Force. Despite the Force's dire run so far (and with no sign that anything's about to change anytime soon), his solid line-out work and all-round work ethic, mean he's a good guarantee of 150-200 points per game.

With the Blues on a bye, I sold Mealamu as soon as the round locked last week, which left me with a front row spot to fill, and the one selection that I'm not 100% happy with. I'd much rather have had Polatu-Nau, Hore or Liebenburg, but with the little money I had left (thanks to Olivier), I could just about afford Stephen Moore (leaving only a paltry $5000 in the bank). The Wallaby hooker's lack of form seems symptomatic of the general malaise afflicting the rest of the Brumbies, but Moore does have an uncanny knack of scoring tries (2 in 4 games so far) and he was the best of the bunch within my price range.

I'm up to second in the Facebook S14 Division, with a world rank of 123. Looking down the teamsheet, I feel confident this week about overtaking Wombat XV to claim the league's top spot and maybe even breaking into the world top 100. We shall see...

Remember next week sees the Reds and Chiefs on a bye, so sell your players from these teams as soon as this round locks, and buy any certain starters from the Blues or Cheetahs - I'll probably get Mealamu back while his price is relatively low. We're allocated another 20 trades after this round locks, which personally will be very welcome.