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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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Munster Rugby Announce Contract Deals For Murray, Daly & Gleeson

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Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.

Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.

Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.

Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.

A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.

The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.

25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.

Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.

Brian Gleeson 10/2/2023

Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy

20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.

Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.

The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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6 Nations

Farrell Names Ireland Match Day Squad To Face Scotland In Dublin

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Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).

Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.

Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.

Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.

Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.

The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.

Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.

Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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6 Nations

Farrell Names Ireland Team To Face England At Twickenham

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Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).

Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.

Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.

Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.

In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.

The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.

Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.

Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.

Ireland:

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)

Replacements:

16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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