Week Ten: Andrew's Team

THE ORCADIANS - Facebook S14

*New buys in italics

FR Keven Mealamu (BLU) - $1,297,500
FR Ti'i Paulo (CRU) - $1,220,000

LK Andries Bekker (STM) - $1, 495,000

LK Nathan Sharpe (FOR) - $1,210,000

LF Pierre Spies (BUL) - $1,420,000

LF Rocky Elsom (BRM) - $1,172,500

HV Quade Cooper (RED) - $1,392,500

HV Matt Giteau (BRM) - $1,060,000

CT James O'Connor (FOR) - $1,465,000

CT Isaia Toe'ava (BLU) - $1,190,000

OB Joe Rokocoko (BLU) - $1,217,500

OB Digby Ioane (RED) - $1,242,500

Team Value: $15,372,500

Cash in Bank: $1,905,150

My team did well last week, finally dislodging Skulliz Boyz from the top of the league and climbing to 13th in the world rankings. Dropping Dagg really paid dividends when his late withdrawal hurt so many other players.

With an eye to conserving my trades, I made only two changes this week, both enforced. With Mumm on a bye, I turned to the reliable Nathan Sharpe - a conservative choice if ever there was one. The surprising benching of Rene Ranger led to a hard decision in the backs - Maitland, Pietersen, Gear, Naqelevuki, Jane, even Lambie, were all considered before I finally plumped for Rokocoko, whose recovered his old form of late and should do well against the Force.

The Waratahs and Highlanders return to the fray next week. No more byes and only four more rounds till the semis. Good luck everyone!

Week Ten: Predictions

Andrew: 47/58 (81%)
Kynan: 40/58 (69%)

Andrew's Predictions

Chiefs vs Stormers - Stormers by 15
Brumbies vs Hurricanes - Brumbies by 7
Blues vs Force - Blues by 12
Crusaders vs Cheetahs - Crusaders by 20
Reds vs Bulls - Reds by 5
Lions vs Sharks - Sharks by 18

Kynan's Predictions

Chiefs vs Stormers - Stormers by 7+
Brumbies vs Hurricanes - Brumbies by less than 7
Blues vs Force - Blues by less than 7
Crusaders vs Cheetahs - Crusaders by 13+
Reds vs Bulls - Bulls by less than 7
Lions vs Sharks - Sharks by 13+

Week Ten: Kynan's Team

NO POOFTAHS - Facebook S14

*New buys in italics

FR Bismarck Du Plessis (SHK) - $1,135,000
FR Ti'i Paulo (CRU) - $1,220,000

LK Michael Paterson (HUR) - $862,500
LK Andries Bekker (STM) - $1,495,000

LF Pierre Spies (BUL) - $1,410,000
LF Sione Lauaki (CRU) - $1,057,500

HV Matt Giteau (BRU) - $1,060,000
HV Quade Cooper (RED) - $1,392,500

CT James O'Connor (FOR) - $1,465,000
CT Luke McAllister (BLU) - $1,032,500

OB Digby Ioane (RED) - $1,242,500
OB Sean Maitland (CRU) - $862,500

Team Value: $14,235,000
Cash in Bank: $239,750

Ioane was a big disappointment last week, but I've stuck with him, even though they're playing the Invinci-Bulls. But these are also leaky Bulls, so I'm expecting a big week from Ioane and Cooper, even in a losing side.

Kahui has been a nightmare for me, and I've finally worked up the courage to drop him. McAlister is in - hoping his mojo has been rekindled and the rot of England was worn off.

Bekker, Paterson and Du Plessis pick themselves.

I dropped in the rankings last week - I've got huge ground to make up with just 6 rounds remaining.

Week Ten: Team Announcements

CHIEFS vs STORMERS, HAMILTON, FRIDAY 09:35

Chiefs – 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Stephen Donald, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.

Subs: 16 Vern Kamo, 17 Nathan White, 18 Romana Graham, 19 Colin Bourke, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Callum Bruce, 22 Jackson Willison.

Stormers – 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Sireli Naqelevuki, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JD Moller.

Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Tim Whitehead.

BRUMBIES vs HURRICANES, CANBERRA, FRIDAY 11:40

Brumbies – 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine/Patrick Phibbs, 8 Stephen Hoiles (c), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.

Subs: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Justin Harrison, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Patrick Phibbs/James Stannard, 21 Brackin Kaurauria-Henry, 22 Andrew Smith/Ed Stubbs.

Hurricanes – 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tyson Keats; 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Nick Crosswell, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.

Subs: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Bryn Evans, 19 James Broadhurst, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Willie Ripia, 22 Jason Kawau.

BLUES vs FORCE, AUCKLAND, SATURDAY 07:30

Blues – 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliame Ma’afu, 7 Tom Chamberlain, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa/Tevita Mailau, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock/Mike Reid.

Subs: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Andrew Van Der Heijden, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Rene Ranger, 22 Paul Williams.

Force – 15 James O’Connor, 14 Mark Bartholomeusz, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Ryan Cross, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 David Hill, 9 Chris O’Young, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Nic Henderson.

Subs: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Justin Turner,
21 Sam Harris, 22 Nick Cummins.

CRUSADERS vs CHEETAHS, CHRISTCHURCH, SATURDAY 09:35

Crusaders – 15 Colin Slade, 14 Jared Payne, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Kahn Fotuali’i, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Ti’i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Sub: 16 Daniel Perrin, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Brad Thorn, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Andy Ellis/Willi Heinz, 21 Daniel Bowden, 22 Zac Guildford.

Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danwel Demas 13 Corné Uys, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Barend Pieterse, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Walti Vermeulen, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Subs: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Nico Breedt, 19 Philip van der Walt, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Robert Ebersohn.

REDS vs BULLS, BRISBANE, SATURDAY 13:40

Reds – 15 Peter Hynes, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Van Humphries, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.

Subs: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Jack Kennedy, 19 Ezra Taylor, 20 Jake Schatz, 21 Ben Lucas, 22 Brando Va’aulu.

Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van der Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuun, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.

Subs: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Deon Stegmann, 20 John Mametsa/Heini Adams, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Pedrie Wannenberg/Jaco Engels.

LIONS vs SHARKS, JOHANNESBURG, SATURDAY 17:05

Lions – 15 Michael Killian, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Todd Clever, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Subs: 16 Hannes Franklin, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Deon van Rensburg, 22 Carlos Spencer.

Sharks – 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 John Smit (c).

Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Alistair Hargreaves, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Andries Strauss, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.

Best Players After Round Nine

TOP FRONT ROWERS
Keven Mealamu (BLU) - 307 >
Ti'i Paulo (CRU) - 289 <
Tatafu Polatu-Nau (WAR) - 261 ><
Adrian Strauss (CHE) - 260 >
Andrew Hore (HUR) - 256 <

The big five in the front row remain the same, though Gary Botha's only a few points off the pace and may make an appearance one of these weeks. Mealamu reclaims the top spot from Paulo and a big score from Strauss sees him leapfrog Hore into fourth.

TOP LOCKS
Andries Bekker (STM) - 253 >
Dean Mumm (WAR) - 252 <
Nathan Sharpe (FOR) - 195 ><
Michael Paterson (HUR) - 163 >
Anthony Boric (BLU) - 160 <

Exactly mirroring the movement among the front rows, Bekker's return to form sends him back to first place (by a single point) over Mumm, Boric slips below Paterson into fifth, while Sharpe remains solid, if unspectacular, in third.

TOP LOOSIES
Pierre Spies (BUL) - 343 ><
Chris Alcock (WAR) - 290 ><
Wickus van Heerden (LIO) - 270 *
Rocky Elsom (BRM) - 259 *
Sione Lauaki (CHF) - 250 <

Spies justifiably dominates the loose forwards but the make up of the remainder of the top five is a bit misleading, with two players - Alcock and van Heerden - present based on their performance in only a single game. Elsewhere, a big week from Elsom sees him make a welcome return to the action.

TOP HALVES
Quade Cooper (RED) - 441 ><
Morne Steyn (BUL) - 372 ><
Will Genia (RED) - 326 ><
Daniel Carter (CRU) - 273 ><
Stephen Brett (BLU) - 268 *

Cooper confirms his position as the top performing half, while Steyn's average score continues to erode after another week where he failed to even make the top ten in this position. Brett's a new entry in fifth, but Donald and Giteau are lurking only a few points behind, just outside the top five.

TOP CENTRES
James O'Connor (FOR) - 359 ><
Adam Ashley-Cooper (BRM) - 281 >
Wynand Olivier (BUL) - 280 <
Isaia Toe'ava (BLU) - 263 *
Anthony Faingaa (RED) - 245 *

O'Connor continues to stretch his lead over the rest of the centres, as Ashley-Cooper displaces an underperforming Olivier to claim second place. Big games this week see Toe'ava and Faingaa making the top five at the expense of Nonu and Kahui.

TOP BACKS
Israel Dagg (HGH) - 359 ><
Sitiveni Sivivatu (CHF) - 344 ><
Drew Mitchell (WAR) - 328 >
Rene Ranger (BLU) - 319 >
Digby Ioane (RED) - 291 <

There's little change among the backs, though an inexplicably mediocre performance against the Lions sees Ioane slip to fifth below Mitchell and Ranger. With Sivivatu injured and Mitchell and Dagg on a bye, players might have to look elsewhere for their backs this week - since the Sharks are facing the lousy Lions, JP Pietersen might not be a bad bet.