Hayden Meikle

Things I like about Christchurch:

They have played excellent wet-weather rugby to pip Ireland and have crushed England in two entertaining but one-sided tests.

Adam Thomson fancies a run for University A this weekend and is quite prepared to be wearing No 7 against the Springboks after that.

John Walker remembers the looks on the faces of the young Chinese rugby players when the long-limbed, dreadlocked Otago University star walked by.

Carisbrook's first All Black test in three years is officially a sell-out but there will be one last chance today for fans to get a ticket.

Whisper it quietly but the All Blacks may just have solved one of their most pressing problems.

Graham Henry added a dash of spice to the test series when he accused England of cynical scrummaging tactics at Eden Park on Saturday night.

Richard Reid hopes the New Zealand Rugby Union has received the clear message that the people of the South want regular test rugby at Carisbrook.

Otago coach Steve Martin hopes a battle over the bridge will prove he has the depth to mount a serious tilt at a championship later this year.

Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Reid is hopeful of retaining Adam Thomson but does not want to bug the new All Black just yet.

Highlanders captain Craig Newby is enjoying some sun and some State of Origin as he recovers from a serious neck injury.

All Black coach Graham Henry walked into the press conference after the test against Ireland and went through his usual routine.

New Zealand tennis great Onny Parun does not think Rafael Nadal will ever lose to Roger Federer at the French Open.

Alistair McMurran is an unassuming man but he has just joined the ranks of an exclusive club.

They might look like nine oversized boys pushing a trolley at the moment, but the prospective members of the New Zealand bobsleigh team intend to be flying in 2010.