Andrew's Team: Week Two

THE ORCADIANS - Facebook S14

*New buys in italics

FR Stephen Moore (AUS) $1,162,500

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!

Kynan's Team: Week Two

Division: Facebook Super 14
Team: No Pooftahs

FR   William Servat (FRA)          $1,137,500
FR   Rory Best (IRE)                  $1,120,000
LK   Leon Nakarawa (FIJ)         $570,000
LK   Julien Pierre (FRA)             $775,000
LF   Jerome Kaino (NZL)           $1,150,000
LF    Pierre Spies (SAF)             $1,170,000
HV   Will Genia (AUS)               $1,035,000
HV   Quade Cooper (AUS)        $1,215,000
CT   Maxime Mermoz (FRA)      $972,500
CT  Richard Kahui (NZL)           $1,130,000
OB   Vincent Clerc (FRA)          $1,142,500
OB   Verineki Goneva (FIJ)        $605,000

Cash in Bank:                             $17,495

Seven trades! And I should have made one more, but I made one by accident. I was trying to sell a wing, and accidently sold Tommy Bowe - I swear I clicked on Dagg, but for some reason Bowe disappeared. Hopefully that won't come back to bite me...

I have no confidence in my team - it is based on last weeks success - never a good idea. But it was all I could afford. Good luck to me.

Best Players After Round One

TOP 5 FRONT ROWERS

Rory Best (IRE) - 380

Huw Bennet (WAL) - 370

Sona Taumalolo (TON) - 320

Andrew Hore (NZL) / Shota Horie (JAP) - 300

Ben Alexander (AUS) - 290

TOP 5 LOCKS

Leone Nakarawa (FIJ) - 370

Luke Charteris (WAL) - 290

Danie Rossouw (SAF) - 280

Paul O'Connell (IRE) - 270

Julien Pierre (FRA) - 255

TOP 5 LOOSIES

Toby Faletau (WAL) - 480

Aaron Carpenter (CAN) - 410

Jerome Kaino (NZL) - 380

Sergio Parisse (ITA) - 360

Sam Warburton (WAL) - 330

TOP 5 HALVES

James Arlidge (JAP) - 460

Quade Cooper (AUS) - 400

Waisea Luveniyali (FIJ) - 355

Morne Steyn (SAF) - 320

Mike Phillips (WAL) - 300

TOP 5 CENTRES

Richard Kahui (NZL) - 610

Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - 450

Daniel van Wyk (NAM) - 360

Gabiriele Lovobalavu (FIJ) - 330

Sonny Bill Williams (NZL) / Paul Emerick (USA) - 280

TOP 5 OUTSIDE BACKS

Vereniki Goneva (FIJ) - 620

Digby Ioane (AUS) - 470

Israel Dagg (NZL) - 450

Alesana Tuilagi (SAM) - 440

Simon Danielli (SCO) - 410

ROUND TWO: Teams

Friday, September 16

New Zealand vs Japan

New Zealand: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Richard Kahui, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Anthony Boric, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.

Japan: 15 Taihei Ueda, 14 Takahisa Usuzuki, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Yuta Imamura, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Murray Williams, 9 Atsushi Hiwasa, 8 Takashi Kikutani (c), 7 Michael Leitch, 6 Itaru Taniguchi, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Hithoshi Ono, 3 Nozomu Fujita, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Naoki Kawamata.
Replacements: 16 Hiroki Yuhara, 17 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 18 Yuji Kitagawa, 19 Sione Talikavili Vatuvei, 20 Tomoki Yoshida, 21 Shaun Webb, 22 Alisi Tupuailai.

Saturday, September 17

Argentina vs Romania

Argentina: 15 Lucas Gonzalez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Martin Rodriguez, 12 Marcelo Bosch, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Santiago Fernandez, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Martin Scelzo, 18 Mariano Galarza, 19 Alejandro Campos, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Nicolas Sanchez, 22 Juan Jose Imhoff.

Romania: 15 Iulian Dumitras, 14 Madalin Lemnaru, 13 Csaba Gal, 12 Constantin Gheara, 11 Ionel Cazan, 10 Tiberius Dimofte, 9 Florin Surugiu, 8 Daniel Carpo, 7 Ovidiu Tonita, 6 Mihai Macovei, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Valentin Ursache, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Marius Tincu (capt), 1 Mihaita Lazar.

Replacements: 16 Bogdan Suman, 17 Silviu Florea, 18 Valentin Poparlan, 19 Daniel Ianus, 20 Valentin Calafeteanu, 21 Marin Dumbrava, 22 Florin Vlaicu.

South Africa vs Fiji

South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.

Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 François Louw, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Juan de Jongh.

Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Gabirieli Lovobalavu, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Waisea Luveniyali, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sakiusa Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Deacon Manu (c), 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma’afu.

Replacements: 16 Talemaitoga Tuapati, 17 Waisea Nailago, 18 Netani Talei, 19 Sisa Koyamaibole, 20 Vitori Buatava, 21 Nicky Litle, 22 Ravai Fatiaki.

Australia vs Ireland

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Anthony Fainga’a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.

Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Drew Mitchell.

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O’Connell, 5 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Conor Murray, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Andrew Trimble.

Sunday, September 18

Wales vs Samoa

Wales: 15 James Hook, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Sam Warburton (c), 7 Toby Faletau, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Bradley Davies, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Tavis Knoyle, 21 Scott Williams, 22 Leigh Halfpenny.

Samoa: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 George Pisi, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali’I, 8 George Stowers, 7 Maurie Fa’asavalu, 6 Ofisa Treviranus, 5 Daniel Leo, 4 Kane Thompson, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (c), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.

Replacements: 16 Ti’i Paulo, 17 Census Johnston, 18 Joe Tekori, 19 Taiasina Tuifu’a, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu, 22 Tasesa Lavea.

England vs Georgia

England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Delon Armitage, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Matt Stevens.

Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 Tom Croft, 19 James Haskell, 20 Joe Simpson, 21 Jonny Wilkinson, 22 Matt Banahan.

Georgia: 15 Revaz Gigauri, 14 Irakli Machkhaneli, 13 David Kacharava, 12 Tedo Zibzibadze, 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Merab Kvirikashvili, 9 Irakli Abuseridze (c), 8 Dimitri Basilaia, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Shalva Sutiashvili, 5 Vakhtang Maisuradze, 4 Ilia Zedginidze, 3 David Kubriashvili, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 David Khinchagishvili.

Replacements: 16 Akvsenti Giorgadze, 17 David Zirakashvili, 18 Levan Datunashvili, 19 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Givi Berishvili, 22 Lasha Khmaladze.

France vs Canada

France:15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Aurélien Rougerie, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc,9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Julien Bonnaire (C), 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Romain, Millo-Chluski, 4 Pascale Papé, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux Poux.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Fabien Barcella, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 Fabrice Estebanez, 22 Maxime Médard.

Canada: 15 James Pritchard, 14 Ciaran Hearn, 13 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Ryan Smith, 11 Phil Mackenzie, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Ed Fairhurst, 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Chauncey O’Toole, 6 Adam Kleeberger, 5 Jamie Cudmore, 4 Jebb Sinclair, 3 Jason Marshall, 2 Pat Riordan (c), 1 Hubert Buydens.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Hamilton, 17 Scott Franklin, 18 Tyler Hotson, 19 Nanyak Dala, 20 Sean White, 21 Nathan Hirayama, 22 Conor Trainor.

Italy vs Russia

Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Riccardo Bocchino, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (capt), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Paul Derbyshire, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Martin Castrogiovanni, 18 Cornelius van Zyl, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Luciano Orquera, 22 Alberto Sgarbi.

Hook's kick missed

After watching the video evidence repeatedly, this is the moment I believe the ball crosses the tryline, and then as it is falling, it swings around, but has already passed the posts.

I think the officials actually made the right call. Both touch judges instantly agreed. I think the TV image actually confuses in this instance, and referring to the TMO would have been inconclusive at best.

Boks needs Bismarck!

For the second test in a row, Bismarck Du Plessis has smashed his obvious superiority over Smit into Peter de Villiers face, and again, I expect, he will go ignored. The only reasonable explanation is that PdV is a madman. Those pointing to Smit's leadership only have to look at one simple fact - while Smit was on the field, SA were losing, Wales enjoying almost 70 percent of the possession and looking rampant. Cue Bismarck, and suddenly SA can get their hands on the ball, make some progress across the gainline, and even go score a try. He almost single-handedly shifted the momentum of the game with some timely steals at the breakdown - a game which SA was almost certainly going to lose. "Leadership" is more than being able to smile at the press and look like a school prefect, it's about picking your team up out of the mire, and kicking a hole in the wall for them to follow through, and in that sense, Bismarck is twice the leader Smit is.

Wales dominance at the breakdown should be concerning to the Boks, but I think it came down to two notable ommissions - Bakkies and Bismarck. SA lacked mongrel, left to rely almost solely on Schalk Burger, who could not compete alone against the massive numbers Wales launched into every breakdown. Without his pack providing forward momentum, Brussow's ability to even get to the ball, let alone steal it, were severely limited. When Bismarck and Willem Alberts appeared, the tide turned - most crucially in an epic counter-ruck to steal Wales ball when they were marching onwards towards the Bok tryline yet again. That shifted the momentum of the match, and rattled Wales self-believe.

So the answer moving forward seems obvious - with Bakkies injured, it is even more essential to include some other vicious beasts in the starting line. Sorry Spies and Smit - it's the bench for you. Bismarck and Alberts must start against Samoa, and in the knock-out games. Brussow and Burger were awesome, but they can't be expected to take on eight men. They need some brutal back-up, especially against Samoa, who monstered the Aussies at the breakdown.

And a final word about Wales - their play at the breakdown was special. Warburton is a major find, but the other forwards really got stuck in and dominated the collisions, often through sheer numbers. Had their backs been equally effective, Wales would have won with ease. Based on performances in the first round, Wales is certainly the Six Nations team to watch, though they'll face a tricky path from here on out.

PS. Apologies for the homo-erotic picture of Bismarck, but I was hoping PdV would see it and change his mind, assuming he and John Smit truly are lovers.