Steve Hepburn

Meet David Te Moana. Has boots, will travel. And although he may weigh in at a strapping 130kg, he has been bigger - a lot bigger.

Two seasons may not seem like a long time, but in terms of success in the Super rugby competition it is a very long barren run for New Zealand teams. The Crusaders were the last New Zealand side to win the competition in 2008 and look the team to beat this year. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn, who assesses the Highlanders' chances tomorrow, looks at the four other New Zealand teams.

It was an email asking for more than $1500 but Pete Thomson did not have to wait a second to say yes.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is pleased with his side's pre-season and says it was important every player got time on the field.

Former Silver Fern Tania Dalton is poised to make a return to elite netball on Monday night as the Steel looks to the past to delve the depths for experience.

He has been around for a while and is surrounded by plenty of his team-mates but Jason Rutledge says there is plenty different about the Highlanders camp this year.

Mark Adam and son Isaac will never pay another cent to see the Highlanders and Otago. And they are pretty happy about that.

Colin Slade is getting used to blended chicken and lots of smoothies and hopes to get back to face his red-and-black colleagues.

Highlanders lock Tom Donnelly's injured shoulder appears to have improved and the injury may not be as bad as first thought.

There will be changes to the Highlanders board as commitments elsewhere have led to both Kereyn Smith and Mike Eagle moving on.

Saints is on top of the table in the post-Christmas competition after it completed two wins from as many games on Saturday.

The injuries keep coming for the Highlanders, with key lock Tom Donnelly damaging his shoulder and hooker Mahonri Schwalger dislocating his collarbone.

With the proper season less than two weeks away, the heat will go on the Highlanders in more ways than one when they play the Chiefs in Taupo this afternoon.

Modern sport is not all smash-and-bash cricket, farcical boxing matches and multimillion-dollar transfer fees. Sports reporter Steve Hepburn finds the successful Otago Country cricket team, which won the Hawke Cup off North Otago on Sunday, relies on good old pride and passion to succeed.

New Otago co-coach Andy Hunter believes his appointment shows there is a pathway for local coaches.