Steve Hepburn

Jamie Mackintosh, who will play his 100th game for Southland tomorrow, has labelled what has happened to the Highlanders as a ''debacle''.

The Highlanders will not struggle to get on the scoreboard if point-scoring in the ITM Cup is anything to go by.

Otago fighters will head to the national championships this week but not all of them will be wearing the colours of the South.

Otago rugby's coffers are getting a boost but money remains tight and will stay that way in the immediate future.

Highlander's scrum coach Kees Meeuws is leaving the franchise to pursue business opportunities and spend time with his family.

Otago has won a thrilling ITM Cup match at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.

Cricket nearly broke out at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night.

Score 50-plus points and the attack must be going fine.

Otago Volts coach Vaughn Johnson admits his side has had a dream start and it is not looking at the superstars it will face next week.

The Otago Rugby Supporters Club has found a new home and hopes membership will increase in its base at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Manawatu has kept faith with the team that beat Southland and is aiming for a hat trick of victories when it takes on Otago tomorrow night.

Two years from today, the All Blacks will play their opening game in the World Cup in England. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks into the crystal ball and determines who will - or will not - be in the squad.

Referees will be dishing out more penalties at scrum time during the rest of the ITM Cup as they attempt to get players into line with the new laws.

Workmen start installing seats in the Otago Daily Times stand at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday.

Winners from Otago Boys' High School teams after the Condor Sevens Otago tournament at Peter Johnstone Park on Sunday are (from left): player of the tournament Reece Mau'u, under-15 player George Thomas, under-14 player Sam Dippie, under-19 player Mike McKay, under-16 player Ben Scorgie and under-18 player Riley McDowall.

Tom Franklin has had a taste of Super 15 rugby and wants some more.

As far as test matches go, this one was as brutal as they come. The Springboks were never going to come out with kid gloves on. It was going to be trench warfare to the extreme.

Hawkes Bay says it did not do it. Otago says it was not to blame.

It is going to be tough but for some Otago players, this is an opportunity.

His young players stood up when counted, according to All Black coach Steve Hansen, and that would pay dividends in the years to come.