Now, just Super Saturday remains before this year’s victors can be crowned (and, of course, the 2024 fantasy champion!). So for the last time, let’s take a look at the big fantasy stories emerging after round four to help you build a table-topping team for the final round…
The first point to cover this week must be the incredible form of Ellie Kildunne. Prior to last weekend, Kildunne was one of the most consistent and high performing players of the tournament, scoring 75 points in round one, 38 points in round two, and 51 points in round three.
However, Kildunne took this to an even higher level in Round 4 with an incredible 126 points. Kildunne’s Round 4 haul is the highest individual total in a single round of any player in the tournament so far. She got there with three tries, two assists, 350 metres carried, 17 defenders beaten and a Player of the Match award. Kildunne has beaten more defenders than any other player this tournament (27), has carried for 789 metres (almost double the second highest carrier, Abby Dow) on 397 metres), and is the highest try scorer on nine tries. Her form has not gone unnoticed by most fantasy players and she is one of the most highly-owned and captained players in the game. This will no doubt continue on Super Saturday.
Kildunne was one of many England players who delivered some huge fantasy hauls in round four. A total of nine Red Roses scored 35 or more points, including Abby Dow (77 points – three tries, one assist, 181 metres carried and 10 defenders beaten), Megan Jones (54 points – 96 metres carried, eight defenders beaten, two tries and one assist), Zoe Aldcroft (50 points – one try, 128 metres carried, 12 tackles and eight defenders beaten), Jess Breach (42 points – two tries, one assist and 123 metres carried), Holly Aitchison (42 points – two assists and nine conversions), Natasha Hunt (36 points – five defenders beaten, one try and two assists), Alex Matthews (36 points – one lineout steal, 10 tackles and 117 metres carried) and Sadia Kabeya (35 points – 108 metres carried, one try and one assist). The Red Roses will have a tougher test on Super Saturday against France but they will still surely be the team to select your primary fantasy players from.
Italy put in a spirited performance in round three but ended up on the losing side. However, they have a number of players that continue to deliver from a fantasy perspective. Three players from the Azzurre scored over 30 points last weekend. These were Alyssa D'Incà (49 points), Beatrice Rigoni (31 points) and Sara Tounesi (33 points). These three, along with Vittoria Vecchini, have been some of the most consistent performers throughout the competition. D’Inca is averaging 40.8 points per game, and has three tries, four breakdown steals, 326 metres carried, 21 Defenders beaten, 43 tackles. Tounesi has a huge 57 tackles as well as 248 metres carried and seve defenders beaten and one breakdown steal. Finally, since Rigoni took over the kicking duties from the injured Michela Sillari in round one, she has accumulated some good kicking points as well as two assists, a breakdown steal and 206 metres carried. Next up for Italy is out-of-form Wales, and you can bet these three will be in the points again.
Leading Scotland to victory over the Azzurre was Lana Skeldon, who has had an injury-impacted campaign in 2024, but truly made her mark in round four. Skeldon has been a great attacking threat in years gone by and against Italy she showed what she’s capable of with a Player of the Match performance that delivered 44 fantasy points. She scored a try and made two breakdown steals, and now she is hitting form, you can expect more of the same against Ireland on Super Saturday.
Finally, in round four, there were a number of strong supersub options. The best of round four was Cliodhna Moloney with 27 points courtesy of two lineout steals. Next highest was Connie Powell (18 points), Ambre Mwayembe (18 points), Gaëlle Hermet (17 points) and Maddie Feaunati (11 points). Again it seems the Forwards are the safest option to assign your supersub role to.
Plenty of food for thought ahead of a huge Super Saturday, so stay tuned for the round five picks coming later this week!
You can follow The Fantasy Rugby Geek on X or visit fantasyrugbygeek.com and play in the Fantasy Rugby Geek League here.
