Fantasy Rugby - Saffex's wildcard team (FOR MIKE)

 The only player you'll 100% have to trade for next round is Pollard, a part from that you could keep the team virtually the same for Round 5, depending on their performances of course. 
The bench has a lot of unknowns but that's mainly because I don't intend on changing them for the next round, only Potgieter for Labuschagne.

 Shezza
A very good team - the only places where we differ in the starting line up are -
Prop  
Faumuina  -  Kitshoff
I would actually prefer Malherbe ahead of either, but he is still on the bench for the Stormers.   He only played for 40 minutes in one game yet he got 28 points already.  A very hard worker outside of scrumming and last year on Foxsport before his injury - he was the highest rated prop pointswise.   
Lock    
Carter - Etzebeth
I do not like Carter as a lock and prefer Etzebeth, and I think so will Saffex
Scrummie 
Pretorius -  Reinach
Little to choose between them.  I have Reinach as starter and Pretorius on the bench.
Outside Backs
This is where the real difference comes in.   I actually prefer to have Folau in the squad and also Savea - despite being a great admirer of James O'Connor.   I saw Naholo play and both him and Kriel was exceptional in their performances.   
What is important is how much your suggested the team cost.   Can I suggest we meet halfway in this and put in JOC and Pretorius, but also rather select Etzebeth at lock and Folau as OB.   On the other side - I would much prefer to have the players I listed as bench backline players than those listed by you.   For me Kriel and Naholo are class players and that is where our main difference is.
Before making the selection - can you please comment on the following:-
*   Total cost of your team as suggested*   the residue left over in the Kitty*   the suggestion that Etzebeth be selected ahead of Carter;*   the suggestion that O'Connor be selected ahead of Savea*   the suggestion that the OB be Folau, JOC, Naholo/Kriel - one on the bench - the other in the starting line-up *  The financial impact if we make the above changes to your suggested team. *  The financial impact if we have the other players I have on the bench than those suggested by you.
In the final analysis the important issue is - if we come up with the team differences as suggested by me - are we still within budget?     

 Just as an aside
I do not like two players from the same team in the same position - ie Carter and Arnold both as locks.  It becomes seriously problematic when the relevant team has a bye and can cause a problem in replacements, since you are compelled to make at least one change in that position - limiting replacement alternatives elsewhere.   

Blues are playing a Schalk Van Der Merwe-less Lions teams so will more than likely have the ascendency at scrum time, also Faumuina is really good outside the scrum. 
A lot of the players I picked are there on the basis of their points, not so much of my opinion on their performances. 

I'll answer all your questions in a hour, I'm a bit busy at the moment. 

$5,953,100 total cost
$46,900 leftover
You can change Carter for Etzebeth (I have enough left over if we sell Carter), but the reason why I kept Etzebeth out is because he's just came back from injury and I didn't want to risk it. 
I picked JOC over Savea because the Hurricanes have a bye this weak, he'd most likely be one of my transfers for the next round. Also JOC kicks at goal so that's an added bonus.
Piutau is a must for this round, the Blues are playing the Lions and he's going to wreak havoc opposite Mapoe
Folau hasn't had a good start to this season (atleast fantasy rugby-wise)
I chose Pretorius over Reinach because he has a much higher average than Cobus, he is also playing against the Bulls which he is highly likely to score against. Reinach is up against the Stormers which are a really solid defensive outfit and I don't see them conceding a try.

Naholo is up against the Chiefs and I think Hosea Gear, I don't see him scoring or playing as well this round.
Kriel is cheap and performing well but the Bulls have a bye next week and I can't find a way to replace him. 

 I'd strongly advise we stick to my team with the swap of Carter with Etzebeth (or any other lock that's worth $310,000 or less). 
I'll try and work out how much you'd have left if I sold every player that's on my bench, you can do whatever you want on the bench BUT you have to have a decent loosie replacement to swap with Lappies for Round 5.

 If we go with the above starting team (Swap Carter for Etzebeth) and sold every player on the bench, we would have $1,161,300 to use for new bench players

 OK 
I follow your reasoning - but I have a bit of a problem with looking not only at the present situation - but also the longer term impact in the case of the using of the wildcard.   
I also accept the issue of JOC over Savea and am also thinking of other issues as well.  So I think that the line up should be as follows:-
PR    -    Coenie Oosthuizen, Charlie Faumuina                    Bench :  Thomas du Toit
HO    -     Hika Elliott                    Bench  :   Torsten van Jaarsveld
LO    -    Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth                    Bench  :    Rory Arnold
BR    -    Jerome Kaino, Michael Hooper, Lappies Labuschagne                    Bench  :    Jake Schatz
SH    -     Sarel Pretorius                    Bench  :    Mitchell Drummond
FH    -      Handre Pollard                    Bench  :    Joe Pietersen
CE   -     S-B Williams, Tevita Kuridrani                    Bench  :    Michael van der Spuy
BR   -     Israel Folau, James O'Connor, Jesse Kriel                    Bench  :    Waisake Naholo
I do not like Jacques Potgieter as a longer term prospect - would prefer Victor Vito - could not afford him and put in Jake Schatz.   Same with Rudi Paige - he is unlikely to survive as a scrummie for the Bulls.   Am going to try getting the above team onto Saffex's Team
Thanks for your help and advice

 Piutau was a must for this round, should have kept him in