Finals netball has come more than a week early for Otago as it takes on Canterbury tomorrow in a do-or-die match.
It takes a fair bit of dedication to get to a world championship. Like 4am starts five days a week. Four gym sessions a week. Then a dip in the sea more often than not.
Otago cracked a half-century for the first time in 63 games as it put North Harbour to the sword at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night.
North Harbour stayed rooted at the bottom of the ITM Cup premiership table tonight and it was easy to see why.
Rugby playing numbers have grown in Otago but the hunt continues to find enough people to referee the game.
The chances of the All Whites playing at Forsyth Barr Stadium look slim, with the head of New Zealand football saying it is a "long shot" the national side would venture south.
Life is a series of lessons.
Usual service resumed for the men in both green and black on Saturday night.
Decision, decisions. Everyone has to make them, some more important than others.
They are the All Blacks' toughest foe. Ever since the two sides first clashed - in Dunedin, at Carisbrook in 1921 - encounters between the All Blacks and Springboks have always been dogged and uncompromising.
Otago Boys' have fallen at the final hurdle in their quest to be national champions, going down 31-5 to St Kentigern College in Auckland today.
A game of rugby is made up of many different things. Steve Hepburn looks at three areas where tomorrow night's test will be won or lost.
Mistakes - they have made a few, and Springbok captain Jean de Villiers says his players must learn from them quickly or be exposed.
After playing in the wind and rain last week, you would think Conrad Smith would welcome a dry pitch and no massive wind gusts.
Some players just fit the stereotype. Liam Coltman - pig hunter, tough bloke, man of few words, big crazy beard. Front-rower, for sure.
Steve Hansen is nearly a year into his new job as All Black head coach. After an eight-year apprenticeship, he talks to rugby writer Steve Hepburn about how his side is travelling.
Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith was dumped from the All Black starting team because of a breach of team protocol.
The battle to fill some big boots appears to be falling the way of Liam Messam.
The rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks was suspended for more than 10 years due to political issues. But in 1992, with political change sweeping South Africa, sporting relations between the nations resumed. Steve Hepburn looks at the first test between the two countries after more than a decade apart.
Kieran Read has experienced a whirlwind seven days and is looking forward to getting home.