THE ORCADIANS - Facebook S14
*New buys in italics
FR William Servat (FRA) $1,137,500
LK James Horwill (AUS) $1,140,000
LK Leone Nakarawa (FIJ) $570,000
LF Sean O'Brien (IRE) $865,000
LF Toby Faletau (WAL) $562,000
HV Colin Slade (NZL) $1,275,000
HV Quade Cooper (AUS) $1,215,000
CT Ma'a Nonu (NZL) $1,215,000
CT Richard Kahui (NZL) $1,130,000
OB Vincent Clerc (FRA) $1,142,500
OB James O'Connor (AUS) $1,177,500
Team Value: $12,172,500
Cash in Bank: $22,095
As many of us feared, it looks like the most worrying element of this competition is trading. I made eight changes this week, all enforced, and at this rate I'll be lucky to make it past the group stage without running out completely. My one consolation is that if this does happen, I doubt I'll be alone!
I kept my front row from last week. I'd dearly love to have Mealamu in there but I just couldn't spare the trades to sub starting players.
All new locks. I doubt Nakarawa will repeat his try scoring feat against the Springboks, but at under $600k if he makes even 100-200 points, I'll be very happy. I stumped up some cash for Horwill in the other slot, with the hope that, as captain, he might be a regular fixture for the remainder of the group games, though I'm already losing confidence in this.
Like a lot of others, I've drafted in everybody's new favourite Welsh Tongan, Toby Faletau. Again, I don't expect he'll top the rankings for two weeks running, but his price made him an important buy. Another underpriced loosie joins him in the form of Sean O'Brien. I think Ireland will have a torrid time against the Wallabies, but O'Brien can rack up the points and he's really a long term purchase. Both he and Faletau should be certain starters for the remainder of the group games and beyond (if their teams make it that far).
All change in the halves too. Breaking my rule of buying for the week ahead, when Carter dropped out, I replaced him with his deputy, Slade. Unless Carter's injuries are much worse than we've been led to believe, then he'll most certainly be back next round. I only hope Slade can earn a bucketload of points in what will likely be his only start of the competition. In the other berth, I picked Quade Cooper, which I came within a whisker of doing last week instead of Carter. Would've earned me another 180 points and saved me a trade, dammit!
In the centres, Nonu's joined by teammate Richard Kahui. Again, he's likely to be a very popular sub this week, and with good reason. Japan proved they were no pushovers against France but there should still be plenty of chances for Kahui to score big again.
Luckily, Vincent Clerc escaped Lievremont's axe so he keeps his place and I'm confident he'll get another try (or two) against a brave, but limited, Canada. Replacing Dagg is James O'Connor. Now that his "naughty stool" days are over, and Ioane's crocked, he's certain to be a fixture for the Wallabies, and should reclaim place kicking duties too.
Congrats to Skulliz for starting so strongly. I'm pretty pleased to be sitting second in the league, but with only six rounds remaining, Skulliz' lead already looks ominous, and I'll need a good performance this coming week to stay in the hunt. Good luck everyone!
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