The data shows readers broadly knew who would travel to Principality Stadium, averaging 16.9 correct players per 23. Instead, points evaporated over jersey numbers and positional switches.

Fineanganofo appeared in 84 percent of reader squads, yet 672 entrants put him on the left wing in jersey 11 rather than his actual starting spot at 14, with Will Jordan sidelined by a hamstring injury and Moorby starting on the left wing. In the second row, 561 readers paired Josh Lord at 4 and 372 had Scott Barrett at 5, missing out when Rennie flipped the pair.

The loose forwards caused similar headaches. While 616 readers put Segner at openside flanker in 7, he started at 6, a call only 15 percent made. Meanwhile, 627 started Ethan Blackadder at 6 and 345 put him at 7, leaving only 6 percent who correctly predicted he would wear jersey 20 on the bench, the least-guessed slot in the entire squad.

In the front row, 60 percent backed Pasilio Tosi to start at tighthead prop in jersey 3 rather than coming off the bench at 18, while 391 put Xavier Numia at loosehead instead of 17. Out wide, with Jordie Barrett ruled out by a facial injury, 480 readers picked Anton Lienert-Brown at centre in 13 rather than second five-eighth in 12, and 39 percent started halfback Kyle Preston at 9 instead of 22, with another 403 putting him at 21.

Readers also underestimated how much experience Rennie would retain. Tighthead Fletcher Newell (in 39 percent of squads), openside Peter Lakai (39 percent), number eight Wallace Sititi (49 percent), and centre Quinn Tupaea (43 percent) were all left out of most entries. More than half of entrants picked Christian Lio-Willie at number eight, though he missed the squad altogether.

Other popular omissions that cost readers dearly included Timoci Tavatavanawai, picked by 82 percent of entrants including 57 percent at second five-eighth, alongside Lio-Willie (72 percent), Chay Fihaki (63 percent), Saula Ma'u (60 percent), Josh Jacomb (55 percent), Tupou Vaa'i (52 percent), and Fabian Holland (46 percent).

Despite the carnage, several calls landed cleanly. Richie Mo'unga starting at first five-eighth was the sharpest prediction of the round at 86 percent, followed by Asafo Aumua starting at hooker (73 percent), Beauden Barrett at fullback (57 percent), George Bell on the bench at 16 (57 percent), and George Bower starting at loosehead prop (46 percent, though 345 readers put him at 17).