Steve Hepburn

Shorn of its best two players, lacking any form or fluency in its game, and facing a side jam-packed with talent, Otago really is walking into the lion's den this afternoon.

This girl stands out from the crowd.

Otago has made four changes to its starting side to take on Canterbury tomorrow but it will not have to face one of the red and blacks' bruising centres.

Otago lock Josh Townsend is heading north, having signed for Auckland for two years.

Rugby is the most popular sport in Otago player-wise and coaching numbers are also on the rise.

Jessica Hamill is like a lot of New Zealand athletes going to the Commonwealth Games next month.

Players need to take individual responsibility for their play and when chances are on offer they simply must be taken, Otago captain Alando Soakai says.

Adam Thomson's season is over.

Brad Cameron had been out of the loop but now finds himself in the thick of things.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is happy with the draw his side has received in the Super rugby competition next year.

The three Rugby World Cup games to be played in Dunedin next year will all kick off at night, with the city hosting the final game of pool play.

Otago assistant coach David Latta admits his job is a lot more than he expected, but he is loving every minute of it.

Loose forward Adam Thomson says he wants to be involved in the new Highlanders regime and that, in the end, convinced him to stay.

It was a win but - to state the obvious - it was ugly. Extremely ugly. If it had been played on the front lawn, the curtains would have been drawn.

Carla Hohepa has come a long way since turning up at an Alhambra-Union training session five years ago.

The only way is up. After a 10-day lay-off, Otago takes the field tomorrow afternoon against Hawkes Bay knowing a win of any form or description is an absolute must.