Steve Hepburn

Hard luck, Otago. A great season fell at the last hurdle in Pukekohe last night as Counties-Manukau beat Otago 41-16 to win the ITM Cup championship and promotion to the top echelon of provincial rugby.

Otago coach Tony Brown says his side had its chances and he could not be too downbeat after losing the ITM Cup championship final in Pukekohe last night.

He has been on the field for virtually every minute of Otago's season but Buxton Popoali'i is showing no signs of wanting to put his feet up.

The man who led the Otago Rugby Football Union away from the brink of liquidation says he gets immense satisfaction out of seeing the Otago side in the ITM Cup championship final.

One man from Kaitangata is in charge of the Otago team. Another man from the town is making an impact in the side.

It would be hard to do much better than the All Blacks achieved at home in 2012. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks back on the season for the men in black.

Otago is into its first final in seven years and it will have its entire All Black arsenal for the big game.

Otago assistant coach Phil Young just loves being back in the first-class scene.

Former All Black halfback Chris Laidlaw says when he thinks of Sir Wilson Whineray, he thinks of the grace the man possessed.

D-Day has arrived for Otago and it is going into battle with some new and old reinforcements.

The dream continues for Otago.

The Highlanders salary budget has increased by more than 50% in the past two years but the side is not spending beyond its means, the franchise boss says.

Knockout rugby - it is not for the faint-hearted. Otago got home in a thriller at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin last night, winning 41-34 over Tasman and is now in the final of the ITM Cup championship.

Adam Thomson admitted the lungs were bursting after a rare 80-minute outing last night.

Brad Thorn admits it is "pretty cool" to come back to the place where his rugby career kicked off.

Playing rugby is about having fun with your mates.