Six Nations fantasy: Seven budget buys to consider for round one including Ben White and Ollie Chessum

Planet Rugby continues to build up to the opening weekend of rugby’s greatest championship by looking at the Six Nations Fantasy budget buys to consider for round one.

The return of the Six Nations means that the fantasy game returns too, with fans given a budget of 245 stars to build their team on the tournament’s official website.

You will need to select 18 players to complete your squad, and with prices ranging from seven to 20 stars, you will need to choose your players carefully. We have picked out seven bargains to keep you in the budget.

Luke Crosbie – 7 stars

The flank is an absolute steal as he starts for Scotland but has the lowest price in fantasy league.

Don’t be fooled by his low price tag, as the Edinburgh man is a hard-working player who makes a boatload of tackles averaging just over 12 tackles remembering that each tackle is a fantasy point.

Crosbie is not shy with the ball in hand either, with eight carries per game and just more than two metres made per carry at 0.2 fantasy points per metre.

With three tries in his 10 appearances, the star may earn points there or even with a clean break, as his three for the season would suggest. Each of which would earn seven points.

Crosbie is a major steal in the opening round, given what he offers and the ridiculously low price tag.

Ben White – 9 stars

The scrum-half was a surprise selection for the Calcutta Cup clash this weekend as Ali Price was expected to start but did not even make the matchday 23.

The starting spot makes White an appealing prospect. The scrum-half has scored three tries this season for London Irish in the Premiership and made impressive metres with the ball in hand, averaging three metres a carry, albeit with less per game than some other stars on the list.

Adding to a potential points haul is try assists, with White having two to his name so far this season, earning seven points per try assist. Given his price, ability, and that he is starting, the Scot is another steal.

Pierre Bruno – 9 stars

The wing has only scored two tries this season in a struggling Zebre side but averages a solid 6.4 metres per carry in the URC.

However, in those carries, Bruno has an impressive nine line breaks, which could be a solid points haul from the Italian.

Whilst the speedster may not be the first-choice in a fantasy back-three, his price and the possible points haul within an ever-growing, and dynamic Azzurri makes the Zebre man a player to consider.

With Monty Ioane missing the opening game, Bruno could rack up a try two. Last year he scored in the Tests against Samoa (2) and Australia.

Ollie Chessum – 9 stars

The second-row earned himself a start in Steve Borthwick’s first England lineup against Scotland this weekend after some solid performances for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership.

Chessum averages over three metres a carry but in fewer carries than one would expect. He makes just more than six tackles in a game, but the feeling is the star is ready to take his game to a different sphere under Borthwick.

The Englishman is cheap, hard-working and another bargain in fantasy this weekend.

Federico Ruzza -10 stars

Another Italian who could be a clever squad edition, given his price-to-potential points ratio, with the star likely to feature prominently for the Azzurri.

For Benetton in this season’s URC, the star has scored three tries in seven appearances, which is impressive for a second-row. Outside of his try-scoring, Ruzza has made 50 carries and made 109 metres at an average of 2.18 metres per carry.

However, where the Italian could generate solid points is the number of tackles he makes and in the lineout. Ruzza averages just over 10 tackles a game at one fantasy point a tackle meaning the Italian’s work rate guarantees points. In the lineout, the 28-year-old made two steals this season that could result in seven points a steal in Six Nations.

Sione Tuipulotu- 11 stars

The Glasgow Warriors star has come in leaps and bounds this season, typified by his stunning performance against the Stormers recently in the URC.

Averaging over 3.5 metres with ball in hand and four clean breaks in his nine games this season, Tupulotu is a hard runner and plays especially well with Huw Jones, who partners him in the Scotland midfield this week.

Add a try assist and hard-working defence, and there is a feasible option for a fantasy midfield and one who may go on to feature throughout the Six Nations campaign.

Tommaso Allan – 11 stars

The Italian starts this weekend in the absence of Paolo Garbisi and will likely feature throughout the tournament.

Allan has scored three tries this season for Harlequins in 11 games whilst kicking at 77% off the tee, which could be a constant source of points. Add a whopping five try assists, and it is easy to see the value the star could add.

At 11 stars as the primary goal kicker for one of the Six Nations sides, it is certainly worth considering the Quins man in a fantasy squad.

READ MORE: Six Nations Fantasy: Six premium players who are worth the price tag