Steve Hepburn

Highlanders assistant coach Mark Hammett is high in praise of his young forward pack but knows the ultimate test lies ahead - this Friday night in Christchurch, to be exact.

There is talk of must-wins, playoff hopes hanging by a thread and falling too far behind. But that is just gossip and speculation.

The boats were flying and the sea was ideal as Waikouaiti Beach played host to the national IRB championships over the weekend.

It is going to be very much a makeshift Highlanders backline which takes on the Crusaders in Christchurch this Friday night.

The Wolf Pack went out on the prowl last night and feasted on some Bravehearts tucker.

This is starting to get depressingly familiar - another close game, another close loss.

Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger admitted last night's loss to the Hurricanes was a bitter pill to swallow and said his side did a lot of things right.

The Highlanders' season so far - sort of like watching a teenager do a hill start in a Hillman Hunter.

Let's say Angus Williams has packed down for an average of 15 scrums a game.

It sounds like an encounter in one of those Hollywood fantasy films. But it is simply the curtain-raiser for a Super Rugby match at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

It has not been a great 10 days for Waisake Naholo.

Another Otago player is heading to the bright lights of Singapore but only for a brief stint.

The cricket season is over at the University of Otago Oval but that did not stop a cricket score being racked up on the ground yesterday.

Palmerston motocross racer Courtney Duncan has made a great start to the 2019 FIM Women's Motocross World Championship.

The Highlanders are brooding and ready for payback, starting on Friday night.

Fomer Otago and All Black captain Ron Elvidge has died.

The Highlanders went back to work yesterday ahead of eight games in eight weeks, which will define their season.

Otago will have three warm-up games - two involving Ranfurly Shield challenges - before the Mitre 10 Cup kicks off.