Six Nations Fantasy 2024: The Ultimate Guide
Top tips for who to pick for your team in this year’s rugby Six Nations 2024
Words // Edward Tristram (Superbru: Paushinfo)
So, we come to it at last. “Sixmas” is fast-approaching, and we are all licking our lips at what it has in store for us. England are picking on form, Wales are leaning on youth, France are on fire, Ireland are licking their World Cup wounds, Scotland are out to prove a point, and Italy are fired up and ready for battle!
Disclaimer: Before we get into the meat of this Fantasy deep-dive, I wish to state that my player picks and comments are aimed primarily at their fantasy performances. I am aware that some notable players may be omitted and some eyebrows may be raised at some inclusions but I am basing my opinions off the players’ Fantasy scores (provided by Superbru). All of my stats and insights are also relative to the date of writing this article - Whether you are new to Fantasy Rugby, or a seasoned veteran, this article is for you.
Make sure you stay until the end to check mine and George FRG’s Dark Horse Fantasy picks for the Six Nations tournament!
What is Fantasy Rugby?
Fantasy Rugby allows you to select a team of players, who score points (or lose them) based off their on-field performances. It sounds simple but there are a lot of elements that can cause you to soar up the rankings, or fall down hard. I will outline the two main Fantasy platforms below:
I said this last year but I will say it again: The best way to dominate your pools is to learn the scoring metrics of each Fantasy game. Every point matters in Fantasy Rugby and knowing how you will score points is just as important as who you pick. The two Fantasy games on offer are very different and players may not perform as well as they might on the other game. Also, please use amazing resources such as Fantasyrugbygeek.com In fact, here are George’s explanations on the two games:
Superbru Six Nations 2024 Fantasy Game
Official Guinness Six Nations 2024 Fantasy Game
Now that we have that all said and done. Let’s look into the teams and my First-Choicers and Dark Horses.
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France
This is an interesting year for French Rugby as they will be without their talismanic Scrum-Half, Antoine Dupont. The 2021 World player of the year will be away on 7s duty and to be honest, he is so ridiculously good that it’s almost worth picking him anyway as he is bound to score points, even when he isn’t in the team! Seriously though, let’s dive straight in…
First-Choicers
Without Dupont, France will be looking to replicate their European club form with some big names. Grégory Alldritt is one of those big names. Alldritt has been named as captain and the La Rochelle back-row is on fine form; you rarely lose value when picking the less-than-gentle giant and he is a great place to start in this frightening French pack.
Another French staple is Damien Penaud. The Bordeaux winger is currently reaching heights that mere mortals could only dream of. He is currently top of tries scored in the Top 14 (even when coming into the Bordeaux squad mid-season!), joint top of tries-scored in the Investec European Champions Cup (EPCR), and is 3rd, 2nd, and 5th for clean breaks, defenders beaten, and meters-made (respectively) in the same competition. A Fantasy goldmine.
My final first-choicer goes to none-other than Peato Mauvaka. The Toulousian hooker took the World Cup by storm and he has not relented since. Mauvaka is every Fantasy-players dream hooker: He makes meters, breaks tackles, beats defenders, wins turnovers, and scores tries (two of those he bagged in his one-man demolition of Ulster). Exclude him at your peril.
Dark-Horses
Seeing as I made such a fuss about Dupont’s exclusion, I feel that I owe Nolann Le Garrec
a sincere apology. The Racing Metro Scrum half has been simply incredible this season and has racked up Fantasy scores that buck the low-scoring trends of scrum halves. Le Garrec is currently 2nd in tries scored in the Top 14, and joint top for tries scored in the EPCR. Couple this with his goal-kicking prowess and you have a powerful player at your disposal.
My second dark-horse is Matthis Lebel The Toulouse-based winger has been on fine form and boasts 2nd place in tries scored in the EPCR. Lebel’s statistics may seem quiet compared to Penaud, but do not overlook this powerful runner as he is a bargain in both competitions. My final choice comes in the form of Toulouse Lock Emmanuel Meafou. Lock is not a position that traditionally scores highly in Fantasy Rugby and having a high-scoring workhorse is critical to the success of your team. Enter Meafou. The Toulousian has been scoring consistently high throughout all rounds of the EPCR and is currently very cheap on Superbru. He is also 2nd for offloads in the ECPR so you know that the big man likes to attack!
England
After a 3rd place finish in the World Cup, Borthwick’s men will be looking to build on their disappointing 2023 Six Nations campaign. The loss of Owen Farrell will be a huge talking-point for the men in white but Borthwick looks to have chosen on form this year. Will we be seeing a more attacking-focused England this time around? Even as a Welsh fan, I’m excited to see this squad play.
First Choices
The first name on my team from England is going to have to be Jamie George. The Saracens’ hooker has been a mainstay in my Premiership Fantasy squad and his elevation to captain will only help his performances. He may be expensive but he is a big-game player and loves to score from a rolling maul and likes to last the full-80. A safe bet for any fixture.
Second on my first choicers is none other than Marcus Smith. The 24 year old Harlequins maverick recently celebrated his 150th club appearance for Harlequins (which is an absurd milestone to get at age 24). Smith has been a Fantasy player’s dream in the Premiership and EPCR: he is currently 2nd place top points scorer in the European competition, 2nd on conversions, top of defenders beaten, and has a beautiful drop goal to his name. In the Premiership, his weekly performances have put him up there as 2nd-highest Fantasy Points scorer for his position in the Superbru competition alone.
My final first choicer is Alex Dombrandt. The Harlequins back row is one of the main players that have kept me afloat in Fantasy Rugby this season. Dombrandt has been performing week-on-week in the Premiership and EPCR. His defensive stats may not be mouth-watering but he boasts an almost-50% dominant carry rate and over 51% of his carries commit 2 + defenders. Couple that with his ability to sniff out the try line and you have yourself one powerful weapon in your arsenal.
Dark Horses
This is so, so difficult as England have far too many to choose from! But, I have to pick 3 so I will start with Tommy Freeman. The Saints’ backline star has had the season of his life and has cemented himself as top-dog for Fantasy points for the back-3 in the Premiership. He is also sitting level with back row Alex Dombrandt for carries in the EPCR so expect a lot of involvement from the big winger.
My second dark horse choice is Ollie Lawrence. Why is Ollie Lawrence still on the dark horse list? Well, he was on my first-choicers list but he has picked up an injury and is a doubt for the Six Nations. I would now consider him a dark horse in the sense of he might only be involved for one or two games! The Bath centre has been one of the best performing players of European rugby and his involvement in games will gain you points in a position that traditionally does not score highly in Fantasy Rugby. Ollie has been making tidal waves in the Premiership and EPCR, and expect him to move mountains in this 6 Nations.
So for my final dark horse…well, who do I choose? Mitchell? Spencer? Alex Coles? Fin Smith? There are so many to choose from but I am going to go with Tom Pearson. The Northampton Saint’s back row has been in fine form and recently bagged a hat-trick in Northampton’s EPCR dismantling of Bayonne. He may not start every Six Nations game but do not overlook Pearson’s contribution to Fantasy points. I did, for the Bayonne game, and I am still regretting it.
Wales
Wales were recently rocked by the news that star winger Louis Rees-Zammit has switched allegiances to join the NFL. Couple this with some key injuries (including injuries to both captains) and you are left with a squad that has some familiar faces, but also some new names for fans to get excited over.
First Choicers
With the exclusion of Louis Rees-Zammit, my first choice has become all the more easier with Josh Adams. The Cardiff winger may not be hitting his lofty heights of 2019, but he is still absolutely lethal with ball in hand. He showed his teeth in Cardiff’s incredible 32-39 match against Bath, scoring two tries and he is poised to strike at the heart of his doubters. My second first choicer is Racing 92 Lock Will Rowlands. The 6 foot 6 brick wall of a Second Row may not be a Superbru first choicer but he scores big in the Official Fantasy game. Rowlands is a hard carrier, boasting a 75% gainline success in the EPCR but his strength lies in his defence. Wales love to give the opponent the ball to trust their defence and Rowlands lives to soak up tackles; in the Official competition where you earn a point for every tackle made, Rowlands will no doubt be a mainstay in a lot of teams.
My final first-choicer for Wales is Tommy Reffell. The Leicester back-rower has been in fine form for the Tigers and even bagged a hat-trick in their impressive win over Newcastle Falcons. Reffell may boast a wide-array of skills but one of his greatest strengths lies in his superhuman ability to steal the ball. Turnovers get you points in Fantasy Rugby and “Tommy Turnover” will certainly live up to his name.
Dark Horses
Wales have trusted their youth in this Six Nations and with this, comes a whole-roster of Dark Horses who are primed and ready to shine for the men in red.
First of those is Mason Grady. The Cardiff Winger is currently joint 3rd in tries scored in the URC and is putting in performance after performance for the Welsh capital. He is a strong runner and can make meters for fun; It’s no surprise that the best Fantasy players in the World have Grady as a mainstay of their team.
My second dark horse choice for Wales is Ioan Lloyd. With Dan Biggar retired, Gareth Anscombe injured, and Tom Brady not deciding to come out of retirement and switch from NFL to Welsh Rugby, Wales are looking to youth with their Fly Half position and Ioan Lloyd is someone to look out for. Lloyd is overperforming in a Scarlets side that is sadly, underperforming. Lloyd has caught the eyes of his selectors with his elusive running, try-scoring, and game management and is currently sitting in 3rd for overall Fantasy points in his position in the URC, and is 2nd in defenders beaten in the same league. With Lloyd able to slot into the back-3, watch this young Scarlet as he could just be scoring against your team.
My final dark horse is another backline player: Cameron Winnett. In the absence of Liam Williams and Louis Rees Zammit, the Wales Fullback jersey is there for the taking and Winnett has been putting his hand up with style. Winnett is currently in the top 10 of meters-made in the URC (sitting right next to Grady and Lloyd) and has had some standout performances for Cardiff that have earned him a place in the Welsh squad (and a number of Fantasy Teams). Winnett may not be a household name but this Six Nations is his time to shine.
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Scotland
Scotland are a team that I have always loved to watch and they are littered with Fantasy Rugby hotshots. This year, they will be looking to put the disappointment of their World Cup campaign behind them and push for 6 Nations glory. The Scottish teams are currently performing well in the domestic leagues and they will hope to put this regional form into action this coming February.
First Choicers
This one is going to come to the surprise of no one: Finn Russell - The Bathonian (yes, that is a word) has been the key cog in the resurgence of the men in blue and white and he has, in my opinion, been worth every penny that Bath have paid for him. Russell is the epitome of a champagne player: he is somehow involved in nearly every try scored on the pitch and his kicking percentages are up there with the best. Russell may not be everyone’s first-choice for fly-half but his contributions to a game add up and you end up with a laundry-list of points scored. He has proved his worth for Bath, and he will prove his worth for your team. Just keep your voice down, you don’t want to be shushed…
My second first-choicer is Duhan van der Merwe. The 2023 Try of the Year winner (seriously, go watch it if you haven’t seen it) is a Fantasy player’s dream. Yes, he tends to be expensive, but his performances for Edinburgh have been nothing short of stellar. Even though he had a rest period after the World Cup, he is still 3rd on clean breaks, 1st on defenders beaten and 5th on meters made in the URC. Couple this with his 59% tackle evasion stat in Europe and you have a winger that plays like a minotaur covered in grease: brutally-direct, yet still evasive.
My final first-choicer is Blair Kinghorn. Yes, sorry Scottish forwards but the backs are ruling supreme here. For me, Kinghorn is a Fantasy player who causes me so much strife: I forget to put him in my team and then he scores two tries, three assists, and runs a hundred meters just to spite me. The once-Edinburgh-now-Toulouse utility back is a mainstay in the Scotland team and he always makes an impact when he plays. Want a further endorsement? Well, Kinghorn has not played in the URC since the start of December last year, yet he is still 2nd on defenders beaten, 3rd on meters made, and 2nd on offloads. He is simply brilliant and worth every penny.
Dark Horses
Ooh, I’m excited about this one! My first dark horse for Scotland is someone who is borderline my dark horse for the whole tournament! Hooker Johnny Matthews is a name that may not be on every fan’s lips but any URC Fantasy player will know the impact that Matthews has had on games. The Glasgow hooker is currently sitting top of the URC for tries scored. Almost-double that of the person below him! Matthews has been a Fantasy revelation this season and has even been scoring braces whilst coming off the bench! Glasgow are sitting 3rd in attack and 2nd in defence for the URC and I know that a lot of that is due to Matthew’s efforts from the front. Hookers are prize real-estate in this year’s 6 Nations Fantasy, and Matthews is a steal; no matter the fixture.
My second dark horse is Cameron Redpath – Everyone talks about the “Huwipulotu” centre partnership, and for good reason. Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu are world-class players and their partnership has blossomed into a fearsome attacking unit. But, don’t forget that Cameron Redpath has been playing outside of Finn Russell in Bath all season and he has been playing out of his skin. The young centre is quick, powerful, and has an impressive work rate. He is insanely cheap on Superbru so he might be an option for some points at a bargain. My final dark horse for Scotland is Andy Christie. I’m not going to lie, I was incredibly excited when I realised that Christie qualifies to play for Scotland as the Saracens back row has been a mainstay of my Premiership team since day 1 of the season. Christie plays in a Saracens back row that contains, Juan Martin Gonzales and Ben Earl, and yet he still gains an absurd amount of points. Christie is a man of dualities: Flashy, yet reliable. Defensively solid, yet retains an attacking mindset. Aggressive, yet disciplined. He will make an impact this year, I know it.
Ireland
The men in green are yet-again, coming into the 6 Nations as potential favourites. The squad may have their quarter-final heartbreak fresh in their minds, but they are still reigning Grand Slam champions and boast a scary amount of talent. They also have to be without their talismanic fly-half Jonny Sexton for the first time in what seems like forever. How will they fair? Well, let’s see who we are dealing with for our Fantasy teams:
First-Choicers
So, I have been experimenting in my lab and I have managed to finally crack it! Behold: Josh van der Doris! Ok fine, I can’t combine the two back rows into one super-flanker so I am cheating and putting them both as my first selection. Why, you ask? Well, the two Leinster powerhouses are in such hot form that I simply can’t pick between them! In Leinster’s last game against Stade Francais, Van der Doris, between them, contributed: 3 tries, 20 tackles, 110 meters made, 2 clean breaks, 6 defenders beaten, a turnover won, and a Player of the Match! If you can pick between them then you are a better decision maker than me.
My second first choicer is Garry Ringrose. Now, I have just heard a collective gasp from the Fantasy community about why Bundee Aki is not on my list but quite simply: Ringrose is in better form. In their last 3 games, Aki scored a collective 21.5 points on Superbru, whilst Ringrose scored a collective 40. We all know that Aki is a big-game player but form has a lot to say, especially in Fantasy Rugby.
My final first-choicer will surprise some people, but it is Finlay Bealham. The Connacht prop has been a huge part of Ireland’s front-foot ball and he is a very good performer in the Official Fantasy game. Traditionally, your props might not score you much but they are cheap. If you get a prop like Bealham scoring you lots of points for not much budget then you are already ahead of the pack!
Dark Horses
Ireland have a disgusting abundance of talent in their regional game and it has shone through to their squad. This is another list which was difficult to even pick 3 dark horses. But, try as I must: My first dark horse is Tom Stewart. The Ulster hooker is shaping up to be one of many selection headaches for you for this 6 nations. We all know the power and impact that Dan Sheehan has on a game but remember when I said that Jonny Matthews was the URC top try-scorer? Well, guess who is joint 2nd? That’s right, the Ulsterman is scoring tries with the best of them and is a core part of many people’s Fantasy teams for the URC. Expect big things if he plays.
My second dark horse is a personal Fantasy favourite of mine: Nick Timoney. Another Ulsterman, Timoney is dominating the European back row scene with his explosive carrying and try-scoring prowess. Garry Ringrose may have scored 40 Superbru points in 3 games, but Timoney scored 45.5 in just two games (with both of those being defeats.) A serious player and a serious Fantasy resource.
My final Dark Horse is Calvin Nash. The Munster flyer has had a very good season with the URC and an exceptional season in the ECPR. He has been the shining light in an otherwise underperforming Munster team (Except for their recent stunning win over Toulon) and boasts the highest individual score for any player than I have seen in the URC in recent memory. Timoney scored 45.5 in two games? Try Nash scoring 45 in just the one! Nash may have Stockdale, Lowe, and Keenan to contend with, but his skill ceiling is sky high.
Italy
The Azzuri are going through a period of brilliance that is easy to gloss over, considering their World Cup woes of recent. Take those away and you are left with regional teams that are performing exceptionally well (with Benneton being 2nd in the URC) and both Benneton and Zebre looking likely to progress to the knockouts in the European Challenge Cup. With that being said, how does that translate to Fantasy Rugby in this Six Nations?
First Choicers
My first name on the Italian sheet is Lorenzo Cannone. The Benneton back row is an absolute wrecking ball when he is on the field and has been gaining points left, right, and centre for Fantasy players in the URC. Two things that stand out about Cannone are: 1) He is incredibly consistent in his scoring, and 2) he translates well for both Superbru and the Official Fantasy game. A rare metric in players and something that is worth its weight in gold for those precious rankings.
My second first choicer is Tommaso Menoncello. The Benneton outside-centre has been a mainstay in the Italian team for some time now and he is currently churning out eye-catching performances. He may not have had much game time, but when he plays, he seems to score two-tries out of nowhere. A dangerously underrated player and one to gain you points in a traditionally low-scoring position.
My final first choicer is Ange Capuozzo. Now, I know that he has not been playing much in the ECPR recently, but whenever I see his name on the teamsheet for Toulouse, I also see his name on the try-scoring list. The diminutive speedster is a thorn in the side for any opposition and I am terrified of him coming to the Principality stadium in March. The very definition of “fixtureproof”, Capuozzo’s fuse is lit, and he is ready to fly.
Dark Horses
Italy’s domestic form has produced a number of players this year that I am very excited to see in people’s teams. Italy are improving year on year and the amount of Italian players making people’s first-choice Fantasy squads is proof of that improvement. So, let’s get into it:
The first of these players is Simone Gesi. The Zebre winger is currently one of the top-scoring outside backs for the URC in Superbru and he is popping up in people’s teams all over the world. His performances have rightfully granted him an audience in the Six nations and if he starts alongside Capuozzo, I guarantee that he will cause havoc with defences; High-scoring budget options and outlier players will be the key to success in Fantasy rankings and Gesi covers both of these, with style.
The second Dark Horse is Alessandro Izekor. The second Benneton back row in this list, Izekor has been a steady workhorse for the Italian team and has been a key component in their domestic successes. Izekor has been there for Benneton’s big wins, personally seeing off Cardiff, Emirates Lions, Stormers, Edinburgh, Ospreys, Zebre (twice), Perpignan, and a draw with Munster. His Fantasy performances have also been impressive and even though the back-row choices are stacked for this Six Nations, Izekor is not a name to leave out of your considerations.
My final Dark horse is Mirco Spagnolo. Italian props are a thing of beauty for Fantasy Rugby as they are generally cheap, score well on both Fantasy platforms, and Italy defend as if their lives depend on it. The Benneton front row is only 23 years old (practically a seedling in prop years!) but he is hungry and ready to show his country what he can do. If he can replicate any percentage of his URC form to the international stage then we will see some special things.
My Fantasy Dark Horse for the 6 Nations 2024 Tournament
With all of those these players listed, there is one notable player that I am both absolutely furious of (as a Welshman) and incredibly excited to see play. That player is Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The Exeter winger has committed his international future to the Red Rose of England and wow are England lucky to have him. He is absolutely lethal with ball in hand; breaking tackles at whim; scoring tries against any and all opposition (he has already scored 5 tries in the Premiership this season); and making hundreds of meters throughout the course of the year. Waboso has a very direct mindset in Rugby: If he can’t run around you, he’s running through you. If you have watched even one game with him on the pitch this season then you will see what this lad is capable of and if he starts, then I am touting him to have some barnstorming performances in this Six Nations. I just personally hope that he doesn’t have one of them when playing against Wales…
FRG Fantasy Dark Horse for the 6 Nations 2024 Tournament
My dark horse is a name already mentioned by Paul. Hooker is a position with fantasy options everywhere you look with the likes of Dan Sheehan, Peato Mauvaka and Jamie George, however my dark horse is Scotland’s try machine Johnny Matthews. He has been unstoppable in the URC this season, leading the try scorers list with 10 tries, 4 more than his closest challengers on 6 tries. He scored an astonishing 21 tries in total for the Glasgow Warriors in 2023. With just one international appearance (and a try, obviously) to his name, he will be looking to make a big impact having been called up for the 2024 squad. Whether he’s a starter or coming off the bench (SuperSub? Yes.) he’ll be a great alternative option in the Hooker position.
Thank you to George from FantasyRugbyGeek (FRG) for his Dark Horse pick and amazing resources! Please don’t forget to join the FantasyRugbyGeek and Reddit Superbru (and Official Fantasy) leagues. My Superbru name is Paulshinfo* – come find me and feel free to drop me a message! Thank you for reading and…
See you in the pools!
*I am currently World-ranked top 1% for Premiership Fantasy, top 2% for EPCR Fantasy, and top 2% for URC Fantasy. Hopefully this can give some credibility for my choices!
