Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph continues to assemble his squad and has brought some exciting young talent into the team, though there is an injury cloud over one of his new signings.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is happy with the draw his side has received in the Super rugby competition next year.
The defending champion Bulls beat the Crusaders 39-24 in their semifinal in Soweto this morning (NZT) to edge closer to a third Super 14 rugby title in four years.
The Bulls claimed their second straight Super 14 rugby title with a 25-17 win over the Stormers in an all-South African final at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
The Highlanders have their 2010 season awards evening next week. It would be fair to say it will be a short affair.
Southland coaches David Henderson and Simon Culhane are keeping their cards close to their chests on whether they want to coach the Highlanders next year, while Jamie Joseph looks a long shot to move south.
The Blues Super 14 rugby franchise has come to the defence of its first five-eighth Stephen Brett's tackling performance, ahead of the first All Blacks squad of the season being named on Sunday.
Jamie Joseph knows nothing about coaching the Highlanders next year but says like any coach he would be interested in moving up to the next level.
More medical issues emerged around All Blacks test rugby candidates today, with Blues prop Tony Woodcock and Chiefs centre Richard Kahui asked to tread tenderly over coming weeks.
Auckland and Blues utility back Isaia Toeava has been added to the growing list of injured All Blacks test rugby candidates.
The Stormers have reached their first Super 14 final with a 25-6 win over the New South Wales Waratahs at Newlands.
The Crusaders have reacted swiftly to counter a jab from Bulls skipper Victor Matfield, who today accused them of illegal scrummaging ahead of Sunday morning's (NZT) Super 14 rugby semifinal at Soweto on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
The Bulls have upped the ante by accusing the Crusaders of illegal scummaging ahead of their Super 14 rugby semifinal.
The Blues go into the final match of their season against fellow Super 14 rugby also-rans the Chiefs in Auckland tomorrow night with a strong sense of what might have been.
The Highlanders have made minimal changes for their final Super 14 rugby match of the season against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday night.
Conrad Smith's clearance from concussion creates yet another headache for a Waratahs rugby side already dreaming up ways to contain his rampant midfield partner Ma'a Nonu.
The Brumbies kept a firm grip on their Super 14 rugby lifeline with a 31-3 win over the Highlanders in Canberra tonight.
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore has put in a plug for his All Blacks aspirants as the team's poor Super 14 rugby campaign comes to an end.
The Chiefs will sign off their Super 14 rugby season by fielding a new-look backline against the Blues in Auckland on Saturday night.
Victor Vito has his fingers crossed that a final chance to impress the All Blacks rugby selectors hasn't passed him by.