Steve Hepburn

Highlanders prop Tyrel Lomax is one of the big movers to be named in a 41-strong squad for an All Blacks foundation day in Wellington next Monday.

Three weeks into the club rugby season and there has already been six defaulted games in the top grades in the South.

North Otago has recorded a profit of more than $23,000 for the past year as it continues to keep its house in order and look ahead to a fruitful year.

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.