Hayden Meikle

1 week ago | odt.co.nz | Hayden Meikle

Let us pray ... It might shock you to learn your columnist does not have a great deal of affection for the Crusaders. In fact, just the other day he was heard to mention if the Crusaders were matched against the Gestapo XV, he would be barracking for the Germans. While some rather misguided souls feel it is in their interests to support the Evil Empire in tonight’s Super Rugby final in some sort of show of southern solidarity, The Last Word stands firm.

1 week ago | odt.co.nz | Hayden Meikle

Scott Robertson will name his All Blacks squad of 35 on Monday as he prepares for his second season as coach. Who makes the cut? Hayden Meikle puts on his guessing hat and runs through the positions. HOOKERSIt feels like this should be a reasonably simple selection depending on the injury situation. The ageless Codie Taylor is likely to be Robertson’s preferred No2, and needs just four more appearances to earn a 100th cap.

1 week ago | odt.co.nz | Hayden Meikle

Fiji coach Mick Byrne claims the New Zealand Rugby contracting system is preventing a couple of Highlanders from playing for the Pacific nation. Byrne told the FijiVillage website he was effectively hamstrung from selecting Fiji-eligible players from Super Rugby teams as their contracts stipulated they must remain eligible for the All Blacks.

1 week ago | odt.co.nz | Hayden Meikle

Climbing your personal Everest is some sort of achievement. Getting to the summit for a second time? Now that is going to be an incredible challenge. Otago paddling king Finn Butcher is playing the long game as he begins the first year in his next Olympic Games cycle. Butcher, crowned the supreme winner at the Otago Sports Awards on Friday night, has completed a challenging first two rounds of the canoe slalom world cup season.

2 weeks ago | odt.co.nz | Hayden Meikle

All signs are this could be one of the closest battles for the New Zealand Ice Hockey League crown in years. A single point separates the top three teams on the table, while the Dunedin Thunder are hovering in fourth after splitting their doubleheader with the league-leading Botany Swarm in Dunedin at the weekend. The Thunder won the opening game 5-4 in overtime at the Dunedin Ice Stadium, while the Swarm won the second game 6-5 in another thriller.