Steve Hepburn

Sometimes guts and determination can only get you so far.

Donald Brighouse. That is Brighouse, although he could easily be mistaken for a big house.

Otago made it a hat trick of wins in the women's national provincial championship on Saturday with a 37-17 win over Counties-Manukau.

Canterbury has beaten Otago 23-16 tonight in a bruising ITM Cup match at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Otago has made some changes to its side to take on the might of Canterbury tomorrow night with a couple of players set to make their starting debuts.

Otago coach Tony Brown admits the lure of a Ranfurly Shield challenge is pretty hard to ignore but a sizeable red and black obstacle is the next hurdle.

Where have all the hookers gone ? Well, All Black-level hookers anyway. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at why there does not appear to be a queue forming to replace stalwarts Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu.

Add this one to the revived book of near-misses in Otago Ranfurly shield history.

Former Dunedin striker Joel Stevens has won a call-up to the national side.

There is plenty of congratulations and back-slapping going on in East Otago smallbore shooting circles.

The Sassenachs Colts team comes from far and wide - some of them take two days to get home from a game. But the sacrifice was all worth it when the side grabbed its first win on Saturday.

It turned into a bit of a southern dogfight but Otago in the end had the biggest bite.

In the opening years of professional rugby, a match between Otago and Southland was a virtual Highlanders trial. But these days nothing could be further from the truth. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at why, as the two sides get ready to clash tomorrow in Invercargill.

A head knock picked up by Lee Allan last week will result in TJ Ioane making his first start of the season when Otago takes on Southland in Invercargill tomorrow.

Andrew Hore was already scheduled to be at Rugby Park in Invercargill tomorrow.

The Highlanders First XV competition looks set for some major surgery that may include a rejigged format and a move to crack down on teams importing players.

There are some good signs - it is a year to the day since Otago won the Ranfurly Shield, the players who scored all the points in that challenge will front again today, and Otago started the season with a comfortable and convincing victory.

The Ranfurly Shield is up for grabs but Otago coach Tony Brown says his side is preparing like it is just another game.

Otago may have missed out on winning the Ranfurly Shield but there is a chance it could have another crack - if not two - at the Log O' Wood.