There has been a long list of talents who have been on the openside flank for the All Blacks. He is the flier, the fetcher, the link man. Steve Hepburn looks at 10 of the best.
They are the men who pilot teams around the field. New Zealand has had plenty of quality servants at first five-eighth. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn ranks the top 10 of the pivots.
Otago has gone to the top of the table after a heart-stopping win over Auckland at Eden Park in their HRV Cup clash last night.
When the Gooches from Gisborne head away, they pack more than toothbrushes and spare pairs of undies.
As 2013 looms in front of us, Steve Hepburn looks into the crystal ball and predicts who is going to grab the glory.
Otago gets its chance under the bright lights at the big ground tonight but for coach Vaughn Johnson, it is the same old story - play the basics and play as a team.
Steve Hepburn identifies the top five stories in New Zealand sport in 2012.
Steve Hepburn identifies the top five stories in world sport in 2012.
In a first for Beachlands Speedway, the New Zealand streetstock championships will be raced at the Dunedin track this weekend.
Crime fiction can be a mixed bag but Connelly is always good and this yarn, one of his earliest, is the best I have read.
He is our captain, and already an All Blacks great. When he retires, he may be considered the greatest of all. But Richie McCaw is not getting any younger. He is in the middle of a long break, and it is impossible to say whether his motivation to continue will be as strong when he returns. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn ponders the McCaw issue.
New Zealand rugby has produced plenty of champions in three positions - fullback, first five-eighth and openside flanker. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at a possible top 10 in each position in a brief series, starting with the men at the back.
The Otago Sparks timed their run to perfection yesterday, getting home by seven wickets against the Northern Spirit at the University Oval.
Steve Hepburn identifies five sports people who hung around too long, and five who timed their exit to perfection.
Unleashed from the captaincy Jamie Mackintosh could have thrown his toys.
The Highlanders have logged a financial turnaround of $300,000 enabling them to announce a small profit yesterday.
Jesse Ryder may be dispatching balls to all corners of the park but to Otago coach Vaughn Johnson he is just another player.
The Highlanders broke up for Christmas yesterday and it is now time to rest some tired bodies.
Otago has a tough draw at next month's national sevens tournament in Queenstown.
Two vacancies will be available on the board of the Otago Rugby Football Union in the new year.
