One Taranaki player in NPC form XV

Photo above: Taranaki's Mitchell Graham was the only Taranaki player selected in the NPC form XV. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography.

Prop Mitchell Graham is the solitary Taranaki player selected in the national provincial championship form XV selected yesterday after a bumper year for the amber and blacks.  

Graham, who was also named Taranaki Rugby’s player of the year last month, was selected as the teams’ loosehead prop. No other Taranaki player was elected but had to compete with a number of players who were outstanding during the competition.  

Taranaki finished the regular season in second place in the premiership and ended the competition in third place after losing to Tasman in the semi-final in New Plymouth.  

AllBlacks.com, who selected the form XV, said Graham played a big part of the amber and black success setting up the foundation up front.  

“Loosehead prop Mitchell Graham was a top performer week after week for the Bulls with his solid scrumming complemented by a high work rate around the park. Graham also has the added bonus of being equally adept at playing on the tighthead of the scrum” the report said.  

According to the statistics, Graham started in all of Taranaki’s eleven games, played 758 minutes with 53 carries and 79 metres gained. His defence was impressive making 63 tackles at a success rate of just over 80% with six turnovers to boot.  

Graham joins Tasman’s Andrew Makalio and Counties Manukau’s Kalolo Tuimola in the front row with Otago’s Tom Franklin and Canterbury’s Scott Barrett as the locking pair.  

The loose forwards in the form XV consists of Counties Manukau’s Jordan Taufua, Otago’s James Lentjes and Luke Whitelock from Canterbury.  

Counties Manukau’s Augustine Pulu was selected at halfback and North Harbour’s Bryn Gatland – who slotted a drop kick in the dying stages of the championship final against Otago – was given the nod at first five-eighth.

Team mate Tevita Lee was selected on the left wing while Manawatu’s Ngani Laumape is on the other.  

The midfield consists of another North Harbour man in the form of Michael Little who made the most tackles in the competition and Auckland’s Rieko Ioane was selected at centre after a very impressive season clocking up 812 metres, 10 tries and 62 defenders beaten topping the statistics for 2016.  

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Canterbury’s Jordie Barrett was named at fullback after a blistering debut season after being in the New Zealand Under 20s earlier this year.  

It’s been another fantastic season and we have enjoyed covering it for ClubRugby.co.nz with plenty of young and experienced players playing their part in the competition.  

Click here to see the full team.