Leading the way was Wallabies young gun Joseph Sua’ali’i, who turned in a breakout performance to top the round with a staggering 52 points. Two tries formed the backbone of his haul, but it was the power and poise of his overall game that rewarded fantasy managers who had backed him in midfield.
Not far behind was his centre partner Len Ikitau, who orchestrated much of Australia’s attack with a silky playmaking display worth 45 points. His three try assists – good for 27 fantasy points on their own – marked him out as one of Round 3’s most valuable contributors. Together, the pair reminded everyone of the Wallabies’ flair in the backline, and ensured plenty of green and gold jerseys featured at the top of fantasy leaderboards this week.
Completing the top three was Beauden Barrett, who once again proved his class in an All Blacks jersey. The Taranaki and Blues playmaker posted 42 points in New Zealand’s hard-fought win over the Springboks at Eden Park. Barrett’s creativity was on full display with two try assists, while his tactical nous shone through with a crucial 50:22 kick, worth 10 points and ultimately pivotal in shifting momentum for the All Blacks.
The overall standings remain just as tight as the action on the field. Wallabies flyer Matt Jorgensen continues to lead the way with 128 points, adding another 25 to his tally in Round 3. Chasing him down is Argentina hooker Julian Montoya on 106 points, his tireless defensive effort against the Wallabies – including 14 tackles – helping him to 32 points for the round. Sitting close behind is All Blacks centurion Ardie Savea with 104 points, after another typically influential shift at the breakdown that featured two crucial turnovers.
Captaincy choices also proved decisive this week. Will Jordan was the most popular option with 25% of managers handing him the armband, and those who did were richly rewarded. His individual tally doubled to a colossal 82 points once captaincy was factored in, leaving rival managers to rue their decisions to back Savea (15%) or Barrett (9%).
And in a quirky twist, the title of leading fantasy manager has been shared evenly around the rugby world so far – an Argentine topped Round 1, an Australian claimed Round 2, and a South African led the way in Round 3. That leaves one obvious question: is it time for a Kiwi to rise up in Round 4?
There’s still time join the action for the final three rounds. Play Fantasy Rugby Championship HERE.