Jimmy Cowan feels he has something to prove but the All Blacks rugby coaches were never in doubt about their No 1 halfback.

Beaten in rugby's most basic skills, it is little wonder New Zealand teams endured their worst Super 14 season on record.

The Highlanders may have won on Friday night but they are still in a bad place on and off the field, writes Gregor Paul.

NZ does not have sufficient talent to warrant five truly competitive Super 14 teams, writes Inga Tuigamala.

It's the halfway point in the Super 14. Gregor Paul looks at the New Zealand franchises who could produce our worst result since 2001.