Steve Hepburn

The playoff hopes of the Highlander are all but dead and buried, courtesy of a clinical Chiefs side which is looming as a genuine champion contender.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said his side played most of the rugby last night but made too many mistakes to win the game.

A full review of the Steel franchise will be conducted at the end of the season but any hope of spending up large to get in some new talent has been dismissed.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is questioning why his side is not being allowed to train more at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Former Dunedin rider Greg Henderson completed a hat trick of good news yesterday with selection in the New Zealand road cycling team for the Olympics. Steve Hepburn caught up with Henderson yesterday as the biggest month of his life looms.

Only about 4000 tickets remain available for the first test at Forsyth Barr Stadium involving the All Blacks.

So the men in green came, they had a look and in one test almost conquered. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at five questions which came out of the All Blacks-Ireland series and ponders the answers.

The Highlanders provide both the wingers for the All Blacks when they take on the Irish in Hamilton tomorrow night. Though Ben Smith and Hosea Gear have yet to make an impact at national level together, rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at four wing combinations which carved up in the black jersey, and another which was not so successful.

Ireland can probably not play any better but All Black coach Steve Hansen believes his side may have been hindered by trying to play too much rugby.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph admits many of his players just want to get out and play rugby.

Steel co-coach Janine Southby will be part of the Silver Ferns coaching staff for the quadrangular series in Australia later in the year.

The Wellington Phoenix is again heading to Dunedin.

Otago loose forward Adam Thomson has earned a call-up to the All Blacks' starting XV for the second test against Ireland tomorrow night. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn wonders why Thomson has never won outright love from the All Black coaches.

Nice ground, good atmosphere. But jeepers, it was cold.

He has done most things in his career but Dan Carter experienced a first on Saturday night.

Kushla Glover is not letting breast feeding and dirty nappies get in the way of her sport.

Otago will name its squad early next month but is unlikely to have experienced lock Tom Donnelly in its ranks.