For Ali Williams, the theme in tonight's provincial rugby final is not so much winning - it is surviving and doing enough to convince the All Black selectors.

After playing like a Premiership team for much of the season, Counties Manukau were tonight rewarded for their efforts with promotion to the top flight of the ITM Cup for the first time.

Southland rugby player Hoani MacDonald came out of an induced coma last night, the day after suffering cardiac arrest and "flatlining'' during a game.