Fantasy Round 9 Review: The Kings triumph in NSW
Matt Faddes had a blinder for the Highlanders during their thrashing of the Sunwolves.
It is fair to say that we were on the money with our roughie Matt Faddes in last weeks Stock Market. The Highlanders' centre, who has been biding his time on the bench, took his chances against the Sunwolves this weekend. During his 80 minute showing he managed to bag himself a brace of tries while running in 184 metres in a player of the round performance.
If you followed the go-to technique of picking up players versing the Kings, Sunwolves or Rebels this week, you would have been disappointed. With Faddes the only player from the Waratahs, Highlanders or Sharks to make the Team Of The Week. To throw another spanner in the works, 2 Kings players and 2 Sunwolves players managed to make the cut.
The Hurricanes put on another powerful performance with stalwart Beauden Barrett (85 points) and youngster Vince Aso (77 points) leading the way for the boys from Wellington as they ran over the Brumbies 56-21. A number of players scored between 40-50 points for the ACT based side, however nobody stood up and asserted themselves into the game.
Mike Willemse put in a good showing for the Kings as they toppled the Waratahs away from home.
Mike Willemse (65 points), Berton Klaasen (51 points), Masixole Banda (52 points) all scored at least half centuries in their historic win over the Waratahs. Bernard Foley (55 points) was the only man from NSW to achieve the same feat for the men in blue.
The Lions scraped in a 3 point win over the Jaguares thanks to big games from Andries Coetzee (65 points), Lionel Mapoe (63 points), Courtnall Skosan (60 points), Warren Whiteley (51 points). Strong performances from Argentines Rodrigo Baez (63 points) and Guido Petti (59 points).
Matt Faddes (100 points) led the way for the Highlanders in their win over the Sunwolves, however Malakai Fekitoa (56 points) also played a big impact. South African Willie Britz (71 points) and Australian Jamie- Jerry Taulagi (51 points) played well for the Japanese based side.
The Crusaders' side posted the most 50+ scores with David Havili (68 points), George Bridge (64 points), Richie Mo'unga (55 points), Codie Taylor (52 points) and Kieran Reid (50 points). While only Cheslin Kolbe (53 points) fell in the same bracket for the Stormers during their loss to the Crusaders.
During the Force's loss to the Chiefs neither side had many players who posted high scores. The eveready battery Damian McKenzie posted 60 points for the Chiefs, while the hard working Matt Hodgson scored 55 points for the Force.
A red card for André Esterhuizen was only worsened by Nic Stirzaker who received both a yellow and a red card on his way to potentially the worst fantasy score of all time.
Niel Marais (55 points) from the Cheetahs was the only man to score over 50 points during the low scoring South African derby between the Bulls and Cheetahs.
No tries were scored in the 9 all draw between the Sharks and Rebels and similarly nobody posted high scores. On the other hand we may have seen some of the worst fantasy scored ever recorded, with both André Esterhuizen (-20 points) and Nic Stirzaker (-35 points) leaving their fantasy coaches not angry... just disappointed.
Team of the Week (TOTW):
Props: Allan Alaalatoa (BRU) – 42 points, 80 mins, 8 runs for 25m, 1 tackle bust and 14 tackles!! Justin Forwood (KIN) – 39 points, 61 mins, 5 runs for 16m, 4 tackle busts, 1 linebreak and 3 tackles
Hooker: Mike Willemse (KIN) – 65 points, 79 mins, 1 try, 6 runs for 30m, 2 tackle busts, 1 offload, 15 successful lineouts, 6 tackles and 1 turnover forced
Locks: Guido Petti (JAG) – 59 points, 80 mins, 1 try, 8 runs for 72m, 3 tackle busts, 1 offload, 1 linebreak, 10 tackles, 4 lineout takes and 1 lineout steal Mark Abbott (HUR) – 46 points, 69 mins, 1 try, 11 runs for 38m, 1 tackle bust, 1 linebreak, 8 tackles and 4 lineout takes
Backrowers: Willie Britz (SUN) – 71 points, 80 mins, 1 try, 10 runs for 58m, 5 tackle busts, 2 offloads, 1 ineffective offload, 1 linebreaks, 5 tackles and 6 lineout takes Rodrigo Báes(CRU) – 63 points, 80 mins, 1 try, 12 runs for 84m, 3 tackle busts, 3 offloads, 1 ineffective offload, 1 linebreak, 1 linebreak create, 7 tackles and 2 lineout takes Uwe Helu (SUN) – 59 points, 67 mins, 16 runs for 105m, 5 tackle busts, 1 offload, 2 linebreaks, 2 tackles and 4 lineout takes
Scrumhalf: Joe Powell (BRU) – 46 points, 1 try, 6 runs for 40m, 3 tackle busts, 3 offloads, 1 linebreak create and 6 tackles
Flyhalf: Beauden Barrett (HUR) – 85 points, 3 try assist, 1 last touch assist, 11 runs for 144m, 7 tackle busts, 3 linebreaks, 3 linebreak creates and 4 tackles. No yellow cards this week
Centres: Matt Faddes (HIG) – 100 points, 2 tries, 1 try assist, 12 runs for 184m, 4 tackle busts, 1 ineffective offload, 5 linebreaks, 1 linebreak create, 8 tackles and 1 lineout take Vince Aso (HUR) – 77 points, 3 tries, 9 runs for 145m, 5 tackle busts, 1 offload, 2 linebreaks and 2 tackles Hon. Mention - Will Tupou (SUN) - 69 points
Outside Backs: Andries Coetzee (LIO) – 65 points, 15 runs for 176m, 8 tackle busts, 2 ineffective offload, 2 linebreaks, 1 linebreak create and 1 tackle George Bridge (CRU) – 64 points, 3 tries, 7 runs for 33m, 3 tackle busts, 3 linebreaks, 2 tackles and 1 turn over forced Damian McKenzie (CHI) – 60 points, 13 runs for 124m, 8 tackle busts, 1 offload, 1 ineffective offload, 2 linebreaks, 1 linebreak create, 6 tackles and 1 lineout take Courtnall Skosan (CHI) – 60 points, 1 TA, 12 runs for 117m, 1 tackle bust, 3 offloads, 2 linebreaks, 5 tackles and 1 lineout take