Irish on a high but not taking Italians lightly
Irish on a high but not taking Italians lightly
The Irish side might have won the past 15 tests against Italy but that does not mean it will be thinking victory is assured on Sunday.
Steve Hepburn
Dagg shines in victory over France
Dagg shines in victory over France
He cannot really tell you how he does it but Israel Dagg has that skill that every player needs - an ability to get to the tryline.
NZ camp happy progress being made
NZ camp happy progress being made
Smashing the French on Saturday night was not about making a statement to the other 18 teams in the competition.
All Blacks show what a simple game it really is
All Blacks show what a simple game it really is
The game of rugby can be complicated. A law book of near-on 150 pages, and a contest of possession which seems confusing and unclear most of the time.
All Blacks looking to roast rooster
All Blacks looking to roast rooster
This is a plot that not even Shakespeare could come up with.
Greatest moments in Otago sport - Number 44
Greatest moments in Otago sport - Number 44
The Otago Daily Times counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport. No 44: Goldie's stunning debut (1993)
Cup would cap magnificent career
Cup would cap magnificent career
Richie McCaw will bring up a century of test caps tomorrow, the first All Black to do so. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks back over his career.
12 tries as 'Boks pummel Namibia
12 tries as 'Boks pummel Namibia
Part of Africa came to the North Shore last night and it was the big boy stomping all over its smaller neighbour.
Toughest of locks keeps chugging on
Toughest of locks keeps chugging on
The iron man will bring up 400 games tomorrow night.
Henry opts for strongest side
Henry opts for strongest side
It may be nearly four years and 50 tests ago but All Black coach Graham Henry says losing in 2007 is still relevant.
Thomson likely to use running game from No 8
Thomson likely to use running game from No 8
The worm may have turned again for Adam Thomson.
Talk of weak French side dangerous babble
Talk of weak French side dangerous babble
All this talk about B teams and French rigging. Do people never, ever learn?
Netball: Dunedin to host three Steel games
Netball: Dunedin to host three Steel games
The Southern Steel will play three times in Dunedin during next year's ANZ Championship as the side looks to win more fans in the city.
England still to meet standards: hooker
England still to meet standards: hooker
England hooker Steve Thompson says the side has high standards to meet and has yet to reach them but believes there is no point playing your best at the this stage of the tournament.
Coach expects more from England
Coach expects more from England
England's clocking up of 40 points last night was more pain than pleasure for coach Martin Johnson.
Who knows what might happen next?
Who knows what might happen next?
In the immortal words of former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, "there are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.
Rugby: ABs step it up a gear and run rampant
Rugby: ABs step it up a gear and run rampant
Better, much, much better. The All Blacks put together a much improved effort than seven days ago, when they ran over Japan 83-7 in Hamilton last night.
When Macca played Japan
When Macca played Japan
When the All Blacks last played Japan at the World Cup, they won 145-17 and Otago utility back Marc Ellis scored six tries. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn catches up with Ellis to discuss that match and the World Cup in general.
Improved All Blacks primed to take on France
Improved All Blacks primed to take on France
All Black coach Graham Henry says his side is where it needs to be going into the crunch game against France in Auckland next Saturday night.
Greatest moments in Otago sport - Number 51
Greatest moments in Otago sport - Number 51
The Otago Daily Times counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport. No 51: Otago beats the Lions yet again (1993)