Steve Hepburn

Highlanders coach Glenn Moore admits next year is a critical one for the franchise but believes, after two years of building, he has the squad to take the next step.

Despite having a stand-out year for Southland, Highlanders rookie Robbie Robinson did not take his selection for the Super 14 side for granted.

Seven wins over the past two years. Well, seven victories must be the minimum goal for the Highlanders of 2010.

The Highlanders are due to be named tomorrow for the 2010 season. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at a possible squad in what is going to be the defining year for coach Glenn Moore.

The horse trading is now done and the Super 14 squads for next year are to be announced this morning.

John Leslie has backed the appointment of David Latta as the next Otago coach.

Ben Smith made probably the wisest investment of his rugby career on Saturday night.

Wellington inside back Michael Hobbs and Canterbury winger James Paterson will be two new faces in the Highlanders next year.

The Ranfurly Shield is finally heading south of the Waitaki River - the only problem for Otago fans is it is bypassing Dunedin.

Southland Rugby head Roger Clark said yesterday the union had been through plenty of tough times and was now reaping all the hard work, and that one of the paths to success was picking home-grown players.

David Latta appears the logical choice as the new Otago coach but there may be other people considered for the job.

Too few wins and too many disappointments. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks back on Otago's poor 2009 season.

Most coaching candidates for the Otago job appear to be keeping their cards close to their chest, but David Latta has put his hand up.

A new triathlon academy - the first of its kind - is to be set up in Dunedin to try to bridge the gap between promising triathlete and elite performer.

It is a sobering thought. Perhaps sobering is not the right word; terrifying, more like, for Otago supporters.

This 80 minutes summed up Otago's season.

Otago skipper Alando Soakai says there is frustration over his first season in charge and admits the captaincy has affected his own game.