RUGBY - Collins: We're gutted by our loss to Southland

Justin Collins ... angry and hurting.Northland rugby captain Justin Collins is trying to put team's despairing 24-16 Air NZ Cup loss to Southland last night behind him.
"Just tell them to come and watch us next week against Taranaki, I promise it won't be like this again," he said. "We were flat, we didn't play well, we didn't execute as well as we can and we collectively accept responsibility for what happened here tonight.
"I tried gaining some rational thinking from the ref, it didn't happen, we're just gutted by this result, we know were 60 percent better than this performance. There were some poor calls, against us, we should accept those because they are not a highly rated union.
"But the guys in the dressing room are just filthy and angry because they let themselves and the fans down."
Collins said he was emotional and angry because he knew the team could play better.
"I left Auckland, the Blues, I never chose Australia because this is home. Northland is what I live for, I bleed for, I play for and I want every rugby-playing kid to believe in the Taniwhas.
"I tried talking to the referee (Josh Noonan Canterbury) but he just treated me like I wasn't even there."
The distraught Collins had every reason to be bitter because it seemed Northland were subjected to "hometown" bias. A South Island referee threatened - unjustifiably to my mind - to have players sent from the field for any minor discretion.
However, it didn't excuse the amateur performance by a backline loaded with talent and ability.
"What can you do with a referee like that when you're a union that is not listened to,' said an equally angry coach Mark Anscombe.
"We were flat, we didn't play well but we got the kind of decisions that the Auckland Warriors have been getting - except we're not expecting any apologies from the referees' bosses in our game," he said.
Northland led 13-6 at halftime thanks to a try by winger Fetu Vainikolo who has received poor service this year, and two penalties and a conversion to Daniel Bowden. Two penalties to first five-eighth Blair Stewart kept the home side in contention.
"You've got to give to them credit, they're a far better side then they have been for years," said Southland coach and former All Black Simon Culhane. "We made the best of what came our way, they infringed at the breakdown coming in from the side and we made the best of there errors."
Another penalty to Bowden made it 16-6 before the Southland Stags came home in a rush, resulting in a try to third-choice hooker Matt Holloway, a penalty to Stewart and another to Jamie Wilson to make it 17-16. A final try by Jamie McIntosh sealed the game for Southland.
"We played poorly in the second half, we were terribly flat, we have to lift and we will," said coach Anscombe. "Our fans don't have to believe us, but somewhere we have to start, that time is now. Were asking they turn up and believe in our Taniwhas."
• Southland 24 (Matt Holloway, Jamie McInstosh tries; Blair Stewart con, 3 pen, Jamie Wilson pen) Northland 16 (Fetu Vainikolo try, Daniel Bowden 3 pen, 1 con). Halftime 16-13 Northland.