Mitre 10 Cup team of 2017

By Scott MacLean

With the Mitre10 Cup over for another year and that Evil Empire lot from the mainland getting their filthy mitts on the title AGAIN, lets wrap it all up with a team of the comp before it’s all forgotten for another year.

(Note: regular All Blacks are excluded from this list)

1 – Tim Perry (Tasman). Might owe his place on the end of year tour to Joe Moody’s injury, but pushed himself into the frame with a series of strong performances. Honourable mention: Mitchell Graham (Taranaki)

2 – Asafo Aumua (Wellington). THE star of the comp. Simply carried on against adults from where he signed off at the U20’s and made it impossible for Hansen & co not to take him. Is there a more devastating runner amongst tight forwards? Honourable mention: James Parsons (Harbour), Matt Moulds (Northland)

3 – Angus Taavao (Taranaki). Rock solid at scrum time and hard-hitting in general play. Led the Naki superbly from the front and often played deep into matches, plus had the bonus of receiving the Ranfurly Shield. Honourable mention: Alex Fidow (Wellington)

4 – Sam Lousi (Wellington). More than a few eyebrows were raised when the former leaguie switched codes, but has carved a niche for himself as an expert at holding opposing players up and winning scrum turnovers at the maul. Great opportunistic try in the Championship final. Honourable mention: Josh Furno (Otago)

5 – Dominic Bird (Canterbury). One of NZ rugby’s most loathed characters (he plays for the Empire and the Chiefs after all) and master of the niggly dark arts had his best provincial campaign getting into everything. His absence during Canterbury’s shield collapse against Taranaki was telling. Honourable mention: Will Mangos (Wellington)

6 – Pita Sowakula (Taranaki). The only person in this side who didn’t play Super Rugby the tall lanky Fijian (and former basketballer) was playing for Taranaki’s B team last year. This time around he delivered several eye-catching performances, showing the pace you’d expect from a converted winger. Honourable mention: Tom Sanders (Canterbury)

7 – Murphy Taramai (Harbour). Another in the long list of players who left the capital after finding their path to rep honours blocked, he’s fulfilling his promise has a hard-hitting defender and a tough customer at the breakdown. Honourable mention: Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), the Du’plessis Kirifi/Mateaki Kafatolu tandem (Wellington)

8 – Toa Halafihi (Taranaki). The hard-running compliment to Sowakula and Boshier in the Naki’s loose trio seldom failed to make the gain line with ball in hand, and a tough defender to get through when he didn’t. Another to have benefitted from being in a Super Rugby environment even if he didn’t play much. Honourable mention: Brad Shields (Wellington – when not injured)

9 – Bryn Hall (Harbour). Escaping the Blues might have been the best thing Hall ever did, because he was a much more rounded player this year after his time at the Crusaders. Keeps knocking at the door of national selection. Honourable mention: Mitchell Drummond (Canterbury), San Nock (Northland)

10 – Jackson Garden-Bachop (Wellington). The former schoolboy star and son of Stephen was on the verge of being labelled a bust, yet returned from a stint in Super Rugby with the (woeful) Rebels an almost completely new player, and drove the Lions around the park as they racked up more wins than anyone else. Honourable mention: Richie Mo’unga (Canterbury), Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)

11 – Tevita Li (Harbour). Those five tries against Taranaki certainly standout and he reminded everyone that with a little bit of space he’s a high-class finisher. Will this time be the one he kicks on at the next level? Honourable mention: James Lowe (Tasman)

12 – Jack Goodhue (Northland). A big part of the Taniwha’s resurgence has been being able to keep the likes of Goodhue, his brother, and the Pryor boys at home. Unfortunately delivered his worst outing at the wrong time in the semi-final loss to Wellington, but his body of work deserved a place on the tour. Honourable mention: Rob Thompson (Canterbury), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)

13 – Tim Bateman (Canterbury). One of the game’s more likeable blokes, few read the game better than he does and that’s how he not just survives as a (relatively) undersized midfielder, but thrives, and seldom takes the wrong option. Also handled the job of handing the Shield over as well and graciously as anyone ever has. Honourable mention: Wes Goosen (Wellington), Tim Nanai-Williams (Counties-Manukau)

14 – Julian Savea (Wellington). When you’ve gone from being the All Black incumbent to being dumped entirely it would be easy to pout. Yet big Julz picked himself up and took on the senior role in the Lions backline, even switching wings to the right and taking on the captaincy in Brad Shields’ absence; and deservedly had the final say in that remarkable championship final. Honourable mention: Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki), Matt Duffie (Harbour)

15 – Shaun Stevenson (Harbour). Does anyone have faster feet than he does? Few can make opponents look as silly in open play as he does, and his positional nous just keeps getting better as well. Honourable mention: George Bridge (Canterbury – in the finest traditions of Scott Hamilton et al), Marty McKenzie (Taranaki – in part due to the ridiculous kicking performance in the Shield challenge)

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