Steve Hepburn

Highlanders coach Glenn Moore says the side is not getting bogged down in the past, and has been working hard on how to handle pressure at the end of games.

Jason Macdonald says it is going to be a strange feeling walking under the grandstand at Carisbrook on Saturday night.

Tyron Pelasio just likes playing sport.

Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan is almost certain to be available to take on the Crusaders at Carisbrook on Saturday night.

Otago Maori teams enjoyed an unbeaten weekend at the Te Waipounamu tournament in Timaru.

Professional rugby players are under much more pressure than in previous years, a former All Black says, while a leading sports psychologist says placing an alcohol ban on players will simply not work.

Otago is now just one win away from a possible tilt at millions of dollars in the Indian sunshine.

Former All Black and Otago rugby coach Wayne Graham has been elected to the Otago Rugby Football Union board, saying he wants to attract players and fans back to the game.

Tom Tamati is in for a big week, not that he is complaining.

The Highlanders may be doing it tough on the paddock but captain Jimmy Cowan says it is nothing compared to what Daryl-Ann Fehsenfeld is going through.

It is usually on the other side of the boundary rope but, because of Dunedin's wet weather, a large tent now stands in the middle of the University Oval.

Highlanders prop Jamie Mackintosh admits he is not a rugby watcher.

For the second week in a row, the Highlanders had victory prised out of their hands, conceding two tries in the final five minutes to go down to the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Highlanders prop Jamie Mackintosh is out of rugby for six weeks through injury.