Tri-Nations Bargains and Bolters

Well, looking at the Tri-Nations prices this year, I doubt anyone can assemble a team of starters. That all depends on team selection by the coaches, of course, but my gut feeling is SA will play it safe, just as New Zealand did. Which means... there'll be some props, scrumhalves and reserve locks fielded in most fantasy line-ups.

That being said, there are a couple bargains to be had.

Springboks

FR  Beast Mtawarira (SAF)  $850,000
Not sure that he'll start right off the bat, given that he has just returned to the SA setup after a xenophobic attack by the SA Sports Minister... but, when you can't afford two hookers (and you won't be able too unless you compromise severely elsewhere) Beast is a good substitute. He carries the ball a lot, gets through an enormous amount of tackles... he really is an additional loosie and should score as such.

LF  Francois Louw (SAF)  $820,000
Maybe the find of the season - like Brussow before him, Louw came out of nowhere and has become the form fetcher in world rugby. His scores weren't huge in the Super 14, but he's a solid earner, and pops up for a couple tries here and there too. I think his scores will rise with his prominence... the scorers always show bias to more famous players.

CT  Juan De Jongh (SAF)  $600,000
Look for him to feature against Australia, and maybe in the home leg. His try in the Super 14 final, and a replica in his test debut against Wales confirmed his class. In space, he has devastating speed and can step a mile off both feet. If you're struggling to field a team, pray an injury on Jaque Fourie so de Jongh can get a run.

OB  Gio Aplon (SAF)  $595,000
If the grossly overpriced and over-rated Kirchner has a bad game on Saturday, buy Aplon immediately. Like Shane Williams, he is unstoppable on the first tackle, and makes impossible breaks several times per game. I don't know why he isn't starting (that's an assumption - we haven't seen the Bok team announcement yet...) because he is certainly the most dangerous outside back in Africa right now.

All Blacks

FR  Owen Franks (NZL)  $630,000
Again, if you can't get a hooker, get Owen. He is cheap but one of the most mobile and hard-working front-rowers around. He pops up in unlikely places with ball in hand, and may even steal a few tries on the wing. He's a good bet for the stingy.

LK  Sam Whitelock (NZL)  $510,500
I think he's the cheapest man in the competition, and while not a starter, I back him to score as many points off the bench as Thorn or Donnelly. Lock is a good place to settle for second best... not that Whitelock is - look for him to be a starter by competitions end. Donnelly is living on borrowed time against the size and athleticism of Whitelock.

OB  Israel Dagg (NZL)  $600,000
Why Henry left his most dangerous back on the bench, only he'll ever know. But Mils can't last forever. Dagg will get a run... probably next week after Muliaina embarrasses himself Saturday (the man hasn't played a competitive game in months.) Like Aplon, Dagg glides into space like a possessed moray eel, and like Aplon, he's dirt cheap.

Australia

LF  David Pocock (AUS)  $930,000
His enormous workrate makes him a consistent earner. While he's not as flash as Spies or Elsom, he's all over the park, turning over ball and hitting the ruck like the crazy Boer he is... yes its true - Australia could never breed a true hard man (I'm still dubious of the origins of Elsom...)

HV  Will Genia (AUS)  $955,000
At a sub-million dollar price, Genia is a steal. He was a top earner in the Super 14, and if he can reclaim some of that form at international level, he's a good buy instead of one of the flyhalves... unless that flyhalf happens to be Morne Steyn, then pay what you must.

Horne is cheap, but I don't rate him as a big earner... I haven't seen him do much damage at international level, and up against the solid defense of Fourie or Smith... no chance.

Australia also have a host of cheap front-rowers, but there's no telling who will play. I expect their regulars to be fit come the start of the Tri-Nations, in which case the bargains will dry up.

Good luck!