Since an oval ball was first passed in this country ,New Zealand has always had good loose forwards. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn views the five men tasked with helping the All Blacks get the ball, score some points and tackle the opposition.
Going back to a full 14-team domestic competition firstly has to be affordable, Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Reid says.
Former All Black lock Tom Donnelly will play for the Crusaders next season as the Highlanders look to free up cash to sign some gamebreakers.
The rapid-fire ITM Cup comes to a conclusion this weekend with first the Premiership final followed by the Championship shoot-out. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the two matches.
They are the engine room of the forward pack and win the ball in the lineout so without them a team is almost impotent. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the locks in the All Blacks.
The bulk of Otago's squad will be back next year but the future of the coaches is less clear-cut.
Otago blew the candles out on its season with some bang, dispatching top-of-the-table Manawatu at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night.
Steve Hepburn profiles England in our series looking at the six teams visiting Dunedin during the Rugby World Cup.
In the first in a series breaking down the All Black squad, position by position, ahead of the World Cup, Steve Hepburn looks at the front row.
Average. In a way, that word sums up Otago's season.
Former All Black Frank Bunce believes the All Blacks are still the favourites for the World Cup and the side just has to use the pressure it is under to its advantage.
Gareth Evans and Sam Giddens are back in the Otago team to take on Canterbury tomorrow as the side finally gets to play at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The equation is quite simple for Otago tomorrow. In a season where it has been trying to regain some respect and credibility, it just has to beat a fast-improving Tasman team.
Otago huffed and puffed but was just not accurate enough to beat Waikato in Hamilton yesterday.
Southern sporting teams are facing a hit in the pocket because of the storm enveloping the country.
Every possibility was considered - including chartering a plane - before it was decided to postpone the scheduled match between Otago and Manawatu at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.
Tony Brown is still enjoying rugby and is not quite ready to hang up his boots.
The new strips at the University Oval are sure to get a good testing this summer, going by the domestic playing schedule released by New Zealand Cricket yesterday.
No ball, no territory, but Otago tackled its way to a victory over Counties-Manukau in their ITM Cup match at Carisbrook last night.
All Black coach Graham Henry is expecting a completely different level of opponent when his side takes on the Wallabies in Auckland on Saturday.
