Do I love this game? Yes indeed! Despite some mixed reviews on the web, I have to say that Rugby 08 has an unbelievable depth to it. What football game, for example, has so much complexity, where changing a single player can have such an effect on the pattern of play?

Have wasted far too many of my (very limited) spare hours playing this with my son, Here are my tips:

Which Game Format to Play and which team?

In my view, the format that is the most satisfying is the World League. You start with a division 3 team (stripped of any impact players) and work your way up into the elite league. My favourite choices of teams are Worcester Warriors (who start with a reasonable set of forwards) or the Queensland Reds. The Reds actually have a fairly poor team, but are my favourite choice for one simple reason; their squad includes Australia A player, Clinton Schifcofske - a nippy winger who can kick goals. This allows you play Berti at fly half (one of the players forced upon you when you start the World League, despite a total inability to kick anything). They also have a decent Scrum Half, in Sam Cordingley (who is quick and learnt his craft as understudy to George Gregan at the Brumbies). Cordingley gets immediate chemistry with Berti.

Early Priorities when building your team

Firstly, do not sell any players on a £4.5k pa salary at any point along the way! If you want (ultimately) to build a great team, you will need all the money you can get! In particular, you will find that winger Nawali (a totally made-up player by the way) is possibly the only player (from your original roster) you will still have in your starting line-up by the time you have played a few seasons in the Elite League. He is very quick, with reasonable ball retention.

Generally, building strength in the forwards should be your first priority! You want to win lots of ball if you are to have a chance in the Knock Out Cup (which you will want to win each season, by the way, for the extra money it brings in!) Good early acquisition are Prop Holmes and Scott Murray (Scotland’s most-capped lock). If they become available early on, Pat Sanderson or Steve Borthwick are also good buys in this phase of the game.

Great Players to acquire before you reach the Elite League

Most of the impact players do not become available until you get into your first season in the Elite League. Even once Impact Players are available, you are limited to five. This means that getting non-impact players who are very good is actually the most important task. A must-buy is Ma’a Nonu in the centers (breaks tackles for fun) and two out of Newton, Thomas and Chapman (who give you flexibility at centre, wing and full back). Januarie is a great buy when he comes available at scrum half. Bergamasco is the quickest forward, so grab him if you are lucky enough to see him! Vincent Clic and D. Troit also good buys when building.

Building Chemistry

It’s actually easier to do this than you might think! Firstly, no player must be played out of primary position - except occasionally a flanker played at number 8. So whilst Shane Williams is a handful at scrum half and can play there, it will prevent you from achieving 100% chemistry.

For the front row, you need three players who share the scrummaging special ability – and where at least two of the players are rated in the upper 80s. In the Second Row, you want two players with the jumping special ability and where at least one is in the upper 80s. In the back row, an impact player plus two more highly rated players with complimentary (i.e. different) abilities is vital. Note that you may have to swap the locks and the back row players about a bit to turn them green. Some flankers, for example, will only grant chemistry at open side. Keep on upgrading players until you get what you want.

An impact player at fly half is usually enough to get the half-back chemistry going. You can extend this to the centres (to get 100% chemistry) by playing someone at inside centre who provides kicking back-up (so Matt Giteau, Gavin Henson or even Mike Catt will do it).

Impact Players – Which are Best?

When you buy your first impact players, flexibility (of playing position) is essential. Lote Tuqiri and Jerry Collins (who is amazing value by the way) are great first choices. If Matt Giteau becomes available, he is the best of all – as can play SH, FH and IC.

In the end, you can only have five, so I tend to opt for two in the forwards and three in the backs. So in the forwards, I like Jerry Collins (who will always score off the back of the line-out) and Richie McCaw (who is always first to the break down and wins you lots of 50:50 balls). In the backs, I like Gavin Henson at FH, Lote Tuquiri at OC and either Shane Williams on the wing or Matt Giteau at Scrum Half.

So, my best team (for 100% chemistry, affordability and lots of fun)

1. Du Randt (South Africa) - 90
2. Adam Freir (Australia) - 86
3. Andrew Sheridan (England) - 91
4. R. Alives (Argentina) [flexibility] - 84
5. K. Chesney (England) [flexibility] - 82
6. Jerry Collins * (New Zealand) - 96
7. Richie McCaw * (New Zealand) - 98
8. I. Motte (Tonga) - 88
9. E Januarie (South Africa) -
10. Gavin Henson * (Wales) - 99
11. Nawali (Samoa) [very affordable]- 76
12. Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)- 78
13. Lote Tuquiri * (Australia) - 96
14. Shane Williams * (Wales) - 99
15. L Thomas (Wales) [affordable] - 79

Once money is less of an object, you could upgrade full back to Doug Howlett and the locks to Victor Matfield and Chris Jack. Could always swap Williams for Clic and Januarie for Giteau.

Have fun – this game rocks!!!

D/