Steve Hepburn

Momentum is a big thing in sport.

It is a big weekend for fans of the oval ball. Four big games on the domestic scene and the four quarterfinals to view in the Rugby World Cup. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn takes a look at who is going to win in the 640 plus minutes of action.

The Highlanders have signed loose forwards Liam Squire and Luke Whitelock and need a prop, midfield back and outside back to complete their stocks.

Josh Renton is enjoying the ride.

Highlanders and Otago first five-eighth Hayden Parker will get back to match fitness by spending a couple of months in Japanese rugby.

The stars have certainly been in alignment since Otago flanker James Lentjes made the decision to head south.

Summer is just around the corner. In fact, this week in the South it arrived early in the form of a hot front. So bring out the cricket bats and tennis racquets. But more and more it is becoming surfboards and footballs. Sports editor Steve Hepburn checks out the quickly changing summer sporting landscape. 

Otago is looking to set a benchmark that plenty of blue and gold teams have failed to reach in recent years when it takes on Northland in Whangarei tonight.

All Black coach Steve Hansen brought up his half-century of coaching the All Blacks in the win over Georgia at the weekend, and his strike rate is right up there with the best of them.

Otago is on on a points binge and Northland was duly gouged and dispersed with in Whangarei last night.

Otago has made a raft of changes for its game against Northland in Whangarei tomorrow night.

Otago has all but confirmed a place in the ITM Cup semifinals with two games to go and could still host a playoff game.

New Zealand Football has set the course for a revamp of the nation's top domestic competition but it looks like a long and involved trip to get there.

Rugby is a game of many facets. But one of the most important, and sometimes most easily overlooked, skills in the contest is an ability at the kick-off - to catch and to contest.

Southland captain Jamie Mackintosh will miss just the one game as punishment for the red card he picked up last week in his side's heavy loss to Otago.