Auckland will win matches much easier than this without dominating as much as they did against the defending champions.

All Black fullback Israel Dagg helped himself to a hat trick of tries as Hawke's Bay took down Otago tonight.

The geographic opposites produced a compelling contest packed with brilliance, errors, attraction and repulsion.

It ended up being a lot harder for Waikato than they imagined, but they got the win they just about deserved on balance.

Auckland welcome back captain Simon Hickey and All Black Charlie Piutau for tomorrow's home clash with defending ITM Cup Premiership champions Taranaki.

North Harbour coach Steve Jackson may still be bitter about how his side's ITM Cup Championship semifinal aspirations crashed in the capital last season.

World Cup hopeful Charlie Faumuina was knocked out at Auckland training today and his comeback has been put on hold until round three of the ITM Cup.

It's time for Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Colin Slade, Codie Taylor, Andy Ellis and other All Blacks to pull on their provincial rugby jerseys.

The weather was iffy, the crowd negligible and the rugby variable. But the upshot was that Bay of Plenty clinched four priceless points.

Auckland and Southland shared the honours with an entertaining 23-23 draw in the opening ITM Cup clash at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill tonight.

North Harbour cannot afford their customary slow start when they kick off their ITM Cup Championship campaign tomorrow night.

Auckland's greenhorns will face a test of their mettle tomorrow night against the Southland Stags as the ITM Cup kicks off in Invercargill.

Simon Hickey, at just 21 years and seven months, will lead a young Auckland Premiership side in their quest for a first ITM Cup provincial rugby title since 2007.

Jimmy Tupou, 23 on Saturday, is the new Steelers rugby skipper, and admits it was something of a surprise..

There is a settled look to North Harbour's ITM Cup squad as they eye up the Championship semifinals. Campbell Burnes reports.

Coaches Tana Umaga, Grant Henson and Glen Rowe have named 10 players new to the province in their 32-man ITM Cup squad.

When Highlanders co-captain Nasi Manu wants to relax he strums his ukulele. His choice of song will vary but he might roll out something from the Lion King movie.

The New Zealand under-20s, Blues, Tana Umaga and All Blacks, in a curious way, are all inter-connected.

The quest for Olympic glory could leave the All Blacks vulnerable next season, writes Gregor Paul.

Move confirms schoolboy rugby has surpassed ITM Cup in size and importance and is where the Auckland Rugby Union will target much of its future investment.

After four rounds a Super Rugby pattern is starting to emerge around who's performing well this season.

NZ's provinces - long-time supporters and friends of Island rugby - are not prepared to offer ITM contracts to any player they suspect could commit to a Pacific nation at the World Cup.

The English Premiership academy system is rightly lauded for its success in promoting domestic talent.