Steve Hepburn

The season is shaping up to be a low point in Highlanders history but coach Glenn Moore says he is still loving his time in the hot seat, and has no intention of leaving.

Call it a false dawn. After the promise of last week's gutsy win over the Waratahs, the Highlanders slipped back into bad habits with a heavy loss to the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night.

Highlanders fullback Israel Dagg may have bigger fish to fry this year but it is not something that is occupying his mind.

Harbour has been docked a competition point and lost the 19 points it scored against Pirates last week after it was found guilty of fielding an ineligible player.

Trust those intelligent students to take technology to the next level on the rugby paddock.

He started on the wing and found his way into the black jersey from fullback - now Ben Smith is about to be played in a position many feel is his best.

Chief executive Steve Tew claims the New Zealand Rugby Union has helped the Highlanders on and off the field and now it is up to the region to show it wants the side.

Wanting to know what shaped Carl Hayman has led to two French journalists visiting Dunedin.

Mathew Berquist is ready to pull the curtain down on his rugby career in New Zealand although he admits he has nowhere specific to go.

Good rugby players are still coming south to university and Otago is starting to produce its own, as the union celebrates having three players selected in the New Zealand Colts side.

Highlanders assistant coach Peter Russell says an incident in Queenstown he was involved in has been blown out of all proportion and he has done nothing wrong.

Take a bow Highlanders forward pack. The front eight in blue were committed, totally enthusiastic, and never stopped going

We all love doing it. In fact, is there anything better in sport in this country than getting one over the big noisy neighbour?

It was about getting out there and enjoying yourself.

The Highlanders have been hard hit by injuries and should be proud of the way they played last week, All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen says.

Hayden Triggs says he has been getting plenty of sideways glances about the Highlanders' performances but if he knew the simple answer to why the side was not getting the wins he would say so.

Highlanders coach Glenn Moore believed his side put on its best 80-minute performance of the season in dispatching the Waratahs last night.