The Highlanders got their Super 15 campaign under way yesterday and there was not a ball in sight.
Unfortunately, though, there were plenty of chunky truck tyres and various other implements scattered about to put the players through their paces.
When the Otago Daily Times arrived, the squad had been split into four teams and they were busy pushing heavy utes around the training field.
When they had done with those, the truck tyres were waiting ominously.
Burly prop Jamie Mackintosh picked one up and humped it to other end.
You could see the blood vessels in his temple pulsating under the strain as the Highlanders captain mustered his last reserves of energy to get the rubber mass across the line.
There were rowing machines and other tyres scattered about the obstacle course.
And any smiles and excitement soon gave way to sweat and exhaustion.
All the while new Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph stood, unapologetically, at one end of the field watching the torture unravel.
All were present and accounted for which makes a change.
Usually there a few strays with a note from home but "not in my teams", Joseph responded.
You get the sense the friendly but formidable former All Black is a firm but fair leader.
As a player he was tough and uncompromising - a stance which he seems to have carried forward in his coaching career.
There is no room for compromise when it comes to fitness and no room for slackers.
"The key to the next two weeks is to get to know each other," Joseph said.
"It is a new team, obviously.
There's 26 players who have come from outside the province and to Dunedin for the first time.
So that's one of the goals and the other is to get them fit.
"I'm not sure how they did things last year but I know what I want to do.
"We've got six or seven weeks before the first pre-season game.
"The key is to build team unity and get these guys fit.
"That is what we are setting out to do."
The Highlanders have a lot of work to do to win back some of their fans after a lean five or six years.
Turning around the beleaguered franchise is a tough ask but Joseph is the type of character who demands respect.
He looks and sounds the part and knows the road ahead will be difficult.
"I'm really excited.
"There is clearly a resolve within the team - we want to get better.
"And as a coach that is all you can ask for."
