Top 5 Investec Champions Cup fantasy scorers: ‘Revitalised’ France exile causes ‘havoc’ as Top 14 teams dominate knockout stage
Top 5 Investec Champions Cup fantasy scorers: 'Revitalised' France exile causes 'havoc' as Top 14 teams dominate knockout stage
The Investec Champions Cup round of 16 is now complete, and the scores are in for those playing the Superbru fantasy league.
Planet Rugby have joined up with the podcast For The Love Of Rugby in the ultimate fantasy league table. Joining stars like Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Anthony Watson, players can test their rugby knowledge against three of the greatest former players in the English game.
Before we reveal who chose wisely and who forgot to change their teams, let’s have a look at which five players performed the best in the round of 16.
5 Teddy Thomas 32.5
The former French international scored a brace in Toulouse’s impressive victory over Bristol Bears, making three line breaks and beating over 10 players as he caused havoc on the wing. This showing was just another impressive performance from the 32-year-old, who has found himself revitalised since arriving at the six-time European champions. He’s been out of favour with France since 2021, but will have no doubt impressed international head coach Fabien Galthie with his recent form.
| Scoring action | Pts value | Number | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting player | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Player’s team won | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Try | 5.0 | 2 | 10.0 |
| Ball carries: 0.5pt per 5 metres carried | 0.5 | 22 | 11.0 |
| Clean break | 1.0 | 3 | 3.0 |
| Defenders beaten: 1pt for every 2 defenders beaten | 1.0 | 5 | 5.0 |
| Handling error | -0.5 | 1 | -0.5 |
| Total | 32.5 | ||
Kalvin Gourgues 35
It was an Investec Player of the Match performance from the Toulouse centre, who also scored a brace against the Bears. At just 21 years of age, Gourgues is one of the most promising talents in world rugby and has played a key part in each of Toulouse’s Champions Cup matches this season, scoring a remarkable six tries in just four matches.
| Scoring action | Pts value | Number | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting player | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Player’s team won | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Try | 5.0 | 2 | 10.0 |
| Try assist | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Ball carries: 0.5pt per 5 metres carried | 0.5 | 22 | 11.0 |
| Clean break | 1.0 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Defenders beaten: 1pt for every 2 defenders beaten | 1.0 | 2 | 2.0 |
| Missed tackles | -0.5 | 1 | -0.5 |
| Handling error | -0.5 | 1 | -0.5 |
| Investec Player of the Match | 3.0 | 1 | 3.0 |
| Total | 35.0 | ||
George Furbank 35.5
Announcing on Wednesday that he will be heading to Harlequins ahead of the 2026/27 season, the 29-year-old is intent on leaving Franklins Gardens on a high. With a try and an assist against Castres, Furbank made a busy 32 carries, beating multiple defenders and was rewarded with the Investec Player of the Match award. Now set to face Bath in the quarter-final, Northampton Saints will look for their departing man to lead from the back once again.
| Scoring action | Pts value | Number | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting player | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Player’s team won | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Try | 5.0 | 1 | 5.0 |
| Try assist | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Tackles: 1pt per 5 tackles made | 1.0 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ball carries: 0.5pt per 5 metres carried | 0.5 | 32 | 16.0 |
| Clean break | 1.0 | 2 | 2.0 |
| Defenders beaten: 1pt for every 2 defenders beaten | 1.0 | 2 | 2.0 |
| Missed tackles | -0.5 | 3 | -1.5 |
| 50:22 | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Investec Player of the Match | 3.0 | 1 | 3.0 |
| Total | 35.5 | ||
Thomas Ramos 38
Arguably one of the most talented men in rugby, Ramos dominated from the backfield once again, assisting two tries and nailing seven kicks to pile the pressure on the trampled Bears outfit. Able to play at 10 or 15, his versatility ensures that he could slot into any team in the world.
| Scoring action | Pts value | Number | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting player | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Player’s team won | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Try assist | 2.0 | 2 | 4.0 |
| Ball carries: 0.5pt per 5 metres carried | 0.5 | 23 | 11.5 |
| Clean break | 1.0 | 2 | 2.0 |
| Defenders beaten: 1pt for every 2 defenders beaten | 1.0 | 3 | 3.0 |
| Handling error | -0.5 | 1 | -0.5 |
| Total | 24.0 | ||
| Points for nominated kicker | |||
| Conversion (nominated kicker only) | 2.0 | 7 | 14.0 * |
| Total kicking points | 14.0 | ||
| Total | 38.0 | ||
Louis Bielle-Biarrey 43
There are very few superlatives left to describe this man. Despite scoring ‘just’ one try at the weekend, he topped the bill for fantasy points after hitting double figures for the number of players beaten, assisting two tries, making multiple breaks, winning a turnover, and gaining the Investec Player of the Match award. The most in-form winger in the world for the past two seasons, no argument.
| Scoring action | Pts value | Number | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting player | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Player’s team won | 2.0 | 1 | 2.0 |
| Try | 5.0 | 1 | 5.0 |
| Try assist | 2.0 | 2 | 4.0 |
| Ball carries: 0.5pt per 5 metres carried | 0.5 | 35 | 17.5 |
| Clean break | 1.0 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Defenders beaten: 1pt for every 2 defenders beaten | 1.0 | 5 | 5.0 |
| Turnover won | 1.0 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Missed tackles | -0.5 | 1 | -0.5 |
| Investec Player of the Match | 3.0 | 1 | 3.0 |
| Total | 43.0 | ||
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For The Love Of Rugby – Results
We’ll start with ourselves at Planet Rugby this week, after struggling with, ahem, ‘internet issues’, we failed to update our team from the pool stages, so as a result, we were stuck with a lock partnership of Alex Coles and Tadhg Beirne, with Alex Mitchell at scrum half – none of whom were playing. As such, we’ve now dropped down 22 places to 222nd.
Dan Cole stepped up the pace once again, rising 40 places to 151st, thanks to his genius decision to captain Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Anthony Watson, however, dropped 36 places to 308th after struggling with a misfiring forward pack.
Ben Youngs has remained in 519th place, having selected a back three of LBB, Reiko Ioane and Thomas Ramos, who bizarrely picked up more points than the entire rest of his team.
For The Love of Rugby fantasy scores
4 Ben Youngs – 770
3 Anthony Watson – 856
2 Planet Rugby – 1022
1 Dan Cole – 1083
- Investec Champions Cup – The greatest club rugby competition in the world. Proudly sponsored by Investec, leading International Bank and Wealth Manager.