He is the man now in the hot seat, but it is one which he is enjoying, and not much, if anything, is surprising him. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn talks to All Black coach Steve Hansen.
Hooray for Hosea. The Highlanders squeaked home 30-27 over the Blues last night at Forsyth Barr Stadium, thanks in no small measure to a fine individual performance from winger Hosea Gear.
The process to build a new board for the Otago Rugby Football Union continues to gather pace.
Former Highlanders Mike Delany and Hale T-Pole have both joined the Dunedin-based franchise as cover for the injury-hit squad.
If it had all gone to plan, Mike Delany would have been in Las Vegas about now.
Jimmy Cowan says he does not regret the incidents of 2008 and leaving the Highlanders in the end was not a hard decision to make.
Otago has continued to shed players from its books but it is still up in the air whether two Japanese internationals will play rugby in the South this season.
The Highlanders will wait until Thursday before making a decision on the fitness of fullback Ben Smith, while back-up first five-eighth Mike Delany should hopefully put pen to paper today.
An announcement on the future of Jimmy Cowan is expected within weeks but it was all about the here and now for the halfback on Saturday night.
They huffed and they puffed but the Stormers house just would not fold.
A bye well and truly earned. And needed.
It has been a long and winding road for Jason Rutledge to reach 50 games for the Highlanders.
Jimmy Cowan is poised to become just the second Highlander to earn 100 Super rugby caps. Steve Hepburn looks back on nine highs and lows for the veteran Highlanders halfback.
General manager Roger Clark says the Highlanders will not turn their back on Invercargill despite the city struggling to attract big crowds for Super 15 matches.
Otago will have to be innovative in operating its ITM Cup team although the national union is still grappling with the finances around the provincial competition, Neil Sorensen says.
Coach Jamie Joseph says Mike Delany may play for the Highlanders this weekend, even though the former All Black has still technically not signed for the franchise.
Young Kohl Goodfellow met "Bill" yesterday.
He is in Dunedin, he even has a training strip and has started learning the game plan, but Mike Delany is still not yet a Highlander.
Former Mosgiel striker Cameron Howieson has signed professional forms with the Burnley club in the United Kingdom although bigger clubs may await.
Adam Thomson, take a bow.
