6 Nations
Week for the Subs; Fantasy Rugby Week 2 Guide
With teams making changes to their starting line-ups from last weekend, substitutes could be the area that you splash the cash on this week

As we head into round two of this year’s 6 Nations campaign, there are questions to be answered, teams are looking to build but who should you pick for your fantasy team?
The first game of the weekend sees Ireland head to Scotland in search of their first points of the championship against the current table-toppers. You have until the kick-off at 14 15 tomorrow to select your team.
Between these two teams you have a number of quality players to pick from. For the hosts, full-back Staurt Hogg will cost you 17.1 stars after going up in value following his impressive display last weekend.
With the metres he runs in a match and his ability to make chances out of nothing it could be money well spent.
Elsewhere for the Scots, fly-half Finn Russell will cost you 15.3 stars, while the ever reliable Greig Laidlaw comes in at 15.4.
A man to look out for is the returning Jonny Gray, who comes into the second-row and will only cost 12.7 stars.
BREAKING | Scotland make four changes for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland @BTMurrayfield.
? Berghan and Strauss replace injured Nel and Skinner, Gray & Maitland return from injury for Toolis and Kinghorn who move to the bench.
➡️ https://t.co/y0gRovACwY pic.twitter.com/wob5Ffn4JO
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 7, 2019
Ireland are a team looking for result and that means that the entire starting XV could be dangerous news for the Scots.
In terms of the best to pick from that 15 you would have to look towards last years player of the tournament Jacob Stockdale, who is 14.7 stars, and is on a mission to make up for his costly mistake last weekend.
Other players searching for self-improvement are the likes of Johnny Sexton, 14.7 stars, and Conor Murray, 14.2 stars.
In terms of players that have come into the team, watch out for Rob Kearney, 12.7 stars, who has a point to prove. Chris Farrell, 11.7 stars, who won man of the match in his only previous 6 Nations start, and Jack Conan, 10.8 stars, who will be hoping to impress as the only out and out No 8 in the current squad.
Here's the @IrishRugby team to play @Scotlandteam on Saturday.#TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder #SCOvIRE pic.twitter.com/LQWUS28tMs
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 7, 2019
Later that evening Italy host a much-changed Wales team.
Sergio Parisse is always a player to look out for at 11.6 stars, along with Michele Campagnaro, 12.2 stars, as the Italians look for an upset.
Jayden Hayward, 11 stars, is down as wing but starts at full-back, while Tommaso Allan is always a live-wire at out-half and is only 10.9 stars.
? #Italrugby: annunciati i titolari in campo sabato all’Olimpico per #ITAvWAL, secondo appuntamento del @SixNationsRugby 2019 ➡ https://t.co/w5dGkNxx9q#insieme #rugbypassioneitaliana @SeiNazioniRugby pic.twitter.com/XUrfBBCw7l
— Italrugby (@Federugby) February 7, 2019
With the Welsh making 10 changes there will be players hoping to impress. Dan Biggar, 14.5 stars, comes in at fly-half and is a reliable source of points, while Jonathan Davies, 14.8 stars, starts in the centre and usually puts in a good shift.
Last weeks top performer George North misses out through injury, so if you want other Welsh players to put into your starting 15 maybe consider Josh Navidi, 13.8 stars, who was impressive against France. While Aaron Wainwright, 10.8 stars, has been in good form this season and would be worth taking a gamble on.
TEAM NEWS ??????? @JonFoxDavies will lead Wales for the first time against @Federugby this Saturday. #ITAvWAL
? Capteiniaeth am y tro gyntaf i'r gŵr o'r gorllewin ar gap rhif 70 am y gêm @SixNationsRugby.#HWFN #ForTheJersey pic.twitter.com/h3aa0Qyb2A
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 7, 2019
The final game of the weekend is the clash of England and France.
England will hope to build on last weekend’s win over Ireland and top performers, Jonny May, 16.4 stars, Owen Farrell, 16.2 stars, and Billy Vunipola, 15.9 stars, all start.
A player to watch is Courtney Lawes, 14.4 stars, who puts in an incredible amount of work and will want to make sure he starts the next game too with a big performance.
Your England team to face France on Sunday in the #GuinnessSixNations
K.O 15:00 GMT, LIVE on @ITV.
Preview ➡ https://t.co/5Ovvau7823#ENGvFRA #CarryThemHome ? pic.twitter.com/nQD44UMqha
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 8, 2019
The visitors have a point to prove after letting a 16-point lead go against Wales. Mathieu Bastareaud, 13.7 stars, comes into the centre and will be a constant threat to the English following his omission last time out.
Louis Picamoles, 14.8 stars, was incredible even in defeat and will surely give another stellar performance this week. Guilhem Guirado, 14.4 stars, is another big-game player, while wing and try scorer last weekend, Yoann Huget, 13.6 stars, switches to full-back and is worth a look.
????????? Dimanche, c’est le crunch ! Voici votre #XVdeFrance pour défier les anglais ce week-end à Twickenham ! #NeFaisonsXV #ANGFRA pic.twitter.com/k8YQMvxsCI
— Fédération Française de Rugby (@FFRugby) February 8, 2019
As mentioned at the top the key this week could be your bench and there are some serious options to pick from.
Last week’s player of the round, Blair Kinghorn, who scored a hat-trick against Italy, drops to the Scottish bench and will cost you 14.5 stars. He might be worth a gamble but is down as a fly-half.
Ireland’s Josh Van Der Flier, who made 19 tackles against England last Saturday, is also on the bench and is available for only 10.8 stars.
Italy’s Edoardo Gori, 10 stars, is a constant ball of energy when unleashed onto the pitch and could cause the Welsh problems in the latter stages of the game.
Wales’ stand-out player on the bench is captain Alun Wyn Jones, however, he is a pricy 15.6 stars.
England have the powerful Nathan Hughes, 12.6 stars, to come on and could be an option.
While France’s Romain Ntamack, 11.9 stars, is the top pick on their bench and could gain a lot of metres while running if he comes on against tired English legs.
Make sure to have a look through the teams before selecting your own, but with the power of the benches and the games super-sub option, it would seem that splashing the cash on a couple of hard-hitting subs might be worthwhile.
6 Nations
England side to face Ireland in Six Nations

Captain Owen Farrell will start at fly half, Manu Tuilagi returns to the side at inside centre with Henry Slade at outside centre. There is a first England start for Henry Arundell on the left wing, Anthony Watson is at right wing, and Freddie Steward is full back.
- Kick off at Aviva Stadium is 5pm
- Cole’s Most Memorable Matches
- Famous Fixtures: England v Ireland
In the forward pack Lewis Ludlam is named vice-captain and is flanker alongside Jack Willis. Alex Dombrandt is at No. 8. In the same front row that has started each game of the championship, vice-captain Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler are at prop and Jamie George is at hooker. David Ribbans starts at lock with Maro Itoje.
Dan Cole is in line to make his 100th appearance for England after being named as replacement. Cole made his England debut in the Six Nations in February 2010. He has gone on to play in three Rugby World Cups and has won three Guinness Six Nations titles.
Nick Isiekwe and Joe Marchant return to the bench, along with Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith.
“We travel to Dublin to face an Ireland team on Saturday that has the chance to secure a Grand Slam Championship victory at home for the first time” said Borthwick.
“We know that after the bitter disappointment of the display against an exceptional France team last week, we will have to be much improved to meet the challenge of playing the side presently ranked number one in the world.
“However, I have witnessed an England squad determined to make amends for the defeat at Twickenham, and I am confident that the team announced today will once again want to show the sort of resilience and attitude that brought us victory in Wales.”
Team to face Ireland
Starting
15. Freddie Steward
14. Anthony Watson
13. Henry Slade
12. Manu Tuilagi
11. Henry Arundell
10. Owen Farrell (C)
1. Ellis Genge (VC)
2. Jamie George
4. Maro Itoje
6. Lewis Ludlam (VC)
7. Jack Willis
Replacements
16. Jack Walker
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Dan Cole
19. Nick Isiekwe
20. Ben Curry
21. Alex Mitchell
22. Marcus Smith
23. Joe Marchant
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6 Nations
Ireland Squad Named For Guinness Six Nations Super Saturday

Ireland will take on England at a sold-out Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening (Kick-off 5pm) for the chance to claim the Guinness Six Nations Championship title, the Triple Crown and a fourth Men’s Grand Slam title.
World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier will win his 50th cap on Saturday. He lines out in an unchanged back row as Caelan Doris is named to start alongside him and Peter O’Mahony.
In the front row, Dan Sheehan has been passed fit and will start with Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong on either side of the scrum. Rob Herring comes in on the bench in place of Ronan Kelleher.
Ryan Baird, who came on for the injured Iain Henderson in Scotland, will partner James Ryan in the second row with Kieran Treadwell named in the replacements.
Captain Johnny Sexton will be partnered at half-back by Jamison Gibson Park and Robbie Henshaw comes into the centre to play alongside Bundee Aki. The back three of Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe start for a fifth consecutive Six Nations fixture.
Sexton equalled Ronan O’Gara’s Six Nations Championship all-time points scorer record (557 points) against Scotland and can become the outright top points scorer against England this weekend.
Jimmy O’Brien come into the match day 23 to join Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Jack Conan, Conor Murray and Ross Byrne who all featured last weekend in Murrayfield.
Ireland’s final game of the Championship will be broadcast live on VIRGIN and ITV television and RTE and BBCNI radio.
IRELAND Team (v England, 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Saturday 18th March, 2023, KO 17.00 (IST))
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 29 caps
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians) 13 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 61 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 45 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 19 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 112 caps (c)
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 24 caps
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 52 caps
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 16 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 64 caps
4. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 10 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 52 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 93 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 49 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 27 caps
Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 33 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 122 caps
18. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 8 caps
19. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 10 caps
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 37 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 104 caps
22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 18 caps
23. Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) 4 caps
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
6 Nations
Wales name much changed team for France

Head coach Warren Gatland has named his Wales senior men’s XV for the final round Guinness Six Nations match against France this Saturday at the Stade de France in Paris (KO 2.45pm GMT live on ITV and S4C).
No 8 Taulupe Faletau will win his 100th Wales cap having made his debut against the Barbarians in June 2011 and won his 50th cap against Fiji at Rugby World Cup 2015.
Dillon Lewis is in line to make his 50th senior international appearance for Wales from the bench. George North – also in the Wales starting line-up that faced the Barbarians when Faletau made his debut – partners Nick Tompkins in the Wales midfield.
Louis Rees-Zammit makes his third start for Wales at full back. Rio Dyer and Josh Adams are selected on the wings.
Dan Biggar returns from injury at fly half. Rhys Webb, who made his first start in this year’s Championship against Italy, continues at scrum half.
There are two changes to the forward pack that started last weekend’s outing at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Alun Wyn Jones is named in the second row, while Aaron Wainwright will make his first appearance this Six Nations coming in at blind-side flanker. Jac Morgan has been ruled out with an ankle injury picked up in training.
Among the Wales replacements Bradley Roberts and Gareth Thomas join Lewis in providing the front row cover.
Dafydd Jenkins and Tommy Reffell are the other forwards in the match day 23. Leigh Halfpenny is named one of the Wales replacement backs, along with Tomos Williams and Owen Williams.
Gatland said: “Last weekend was really important for us getting a win in the Six Nations and building a bit of confidence. It was a step in the right direction but there’s still lots for us to work on.
“We’ve worked hard on a few things in terms of tidying some of the defensive lapses that we’ve made and getting those things right. We’re still working hard on our attack.
“I think France last weekend put in probably one of the best performances seen in a long, long time. They’re the number two team in the world. They bring a really physical approach to the way they play and they’ve tended to start well.
“So that’s the important thing. We’ve got to go out there and start well, make sure we’re in that arm wrestle with them and give ourselves that opportunity.
“They’re a team that kick the ball a lot, so we’ve also got to make sure that our backfield is right and we’ve got to be good in the air.”
On Faletau reaching 100 caps for Wales Gatland added: “Toby has been a fantastic servant for Welsh rugby. Even though he’s reaching 100 caps he’s still pretty quiet, but he’s incredibly well respected by the players for what he’s achieved.
“I remember in the early years he was just a constant and he became absolutely world class in terms of his performances.
“There’s a lot of things that people don’t see in terms of his ability to read the game – he’ll run support lines that people don’t see. You see that when you’re going back through the videos and there have been times where he’s been on the end of a pass and scored tries. We saw that last week, Rhys Webb makes a break and Toby scores a try.
“Getting 100 caps is a great recognition for what he’s achieved in the game. It’s fantastic for him and his family and hopefully we can go out there and give him a really good performance and something for him to remember.”
Wales senior men’s XV to play France in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, Saturday 18 March KO 2.45pm GMT. Live on ITV and S4C
15 Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 24 caps)
14 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 48 caps)
13 George North (Ospreys – 112 caps)
12 Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 26 caps)
11 Rio Dyer (Dragons – 6 caps)
10 Dan Biggar (Toulon – 106 caps)
9 Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 39 caps);
1 Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 47 caps)
2 Ken Owens (Scarlets – 90 caps) CAPT
3 Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 70 caps)
4 Adam Beard (Ospreys – 45 caps)
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 157 caps)
6 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 36 caps)
7 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 92 caps)
8 Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 99 caps)
Replacements
16 Bradley Roberts (Dragons – 4 caps)
17 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 20 caps)
18 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 49 caps)
19 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 5 caps)
20 Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 8 caps)
21 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 44 caps)
22 Owen Williams (Ospreys – 6 caps)
23 Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 98 caps)
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