Don't mess with Collins the enforcer

Jerry Collins collars Australia's Daniel Vickerman in this month's Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney. "I'll take any jersey I can get to be an All Black," he says. Picture / Reuters

It was a member of the touring media pack during the Lions series who suggested it must be terrifying to have a pint of Guinness running at you on a rugby field.

He was referring to Jerry Collins, the Samoan-born All Black who for much of the past year has sported a neatly cropped blond hairstyle.

You imagine it is not the sort of quip you would willingly make in front of the player, given that the hair sits on top of one of the most imposing, steely-eyed faces and impressive set of biceps in world rugby.

Collins is the All Black enforcer, one of the strongmen of a developing pack that is getting renewed respect for its willingness to go toe to toe with its opponents in the physical exchanges.

He hits hard and asks questions later. Just ask Colin Charvis, the Welsh forward whom Collins nearly cut in half two years ago.

Funnily enough, Collins' strength has also been described as his weakness. He's been called one-dimensional and criticised for his crash-bash approach.

But he must be doing something right. He's now the first-choice blindside flanker for the side rated No 1 in the world, and he has arguably been the most consistent member of the All Black pack this season.

"I'm getting there. I wouldn't say I'm there, but I'm working on it," he told the Otago Daily Times.

"The team's going well, regardless of who's playing, and the culture they've built over the last 12 months has been great.

"It's just a privilege to be a part of it."

Collins was a schoolboy star - he captained New Zealand Schools in 1997 while at St Patrick's College in Wellington - and a prominent national age group representative. He captained his Northern United club side at the tender age of 18.

At 20, he made his test debut. It was against Argentina at Jade Stadium in 2001, and he was at No 8.

That was it for two years. Scott Robertson, Taine Randell and Reuben Thorne dominated the No 8 and No 6 jerseys, and Collins had some serious rehabilitation to do after a bad break of a leg.

He was the regular No 8 in 2003, suffering at the World Cup with the rest of his team, but was back on the bench last year when Xavier Rush was given a second chance at the back of the scrum and Jono Gibbes emerged as a rugged blindside option.

As it did for Rodney So'oialo and Dan Carter, among others, the European tour late last year offered an opportunity for Collins to really announce himself on the world stage.

In a relatively short time he has, though he is still just 24, established himself as an All Black and taken an iron grip on the No 6 jersey.

"I'm getting older but I'm still learning a lot, and that's the great thing with so many minds in one place," Collins said.

"You get to relearn things you might have forgotten and you get to learn things you never knew."

On the blindside flanker v No 8 debate, Collins merely shrugs.

"I don't think I've done a bad job in any jersey I've had.

"It doesn't really worry me. I'll take any jersey I can get to be an All Black. At the moment, 6 has been pretty good to me."

With the average age of the All Black pack that faces South Africa tomorrow night being 25, hopes are high that the eight forwards can stick around as a unit for a while.

That was a dangerous wish, Collins said, given the high turnover of players in the professional age. But as long as Steve Hansen was an All Black assistant coach, it might be possible.

Hansen might have been a centre in his playing days but he was doing a superb job as forwards coach.

"Well, he looks like a forward now," Collins quipped.

"Oh, he's been great. Just the little things, like passing before a tackle, or putting in a step, or hitting into a weak shoulder, or line-out lifting.

"He works on bits and pieces of your game so you can improve your overall performance."

It is tempting to assume Collins relishes playing the Springboks, whom he has encountered in five tests, more than any other opponent because of the increased physical confrontation.

His body lets him know the day after tests against the Boks that his is an unforgiving occupation.

"There are days I wish I was a winger."

Collins has been struggling with the flu but said he would be fine come kickoff time tomorrow night.

He has heard all the rumblings about Carisbrook not being a sell-out for the game, but pointed out that other grounds, notably Wellington, had fewer tickets to sell because of their huge number of ground members.

"Otago's probably still old school and relies on a lot of students rolling up," Collins said. "Maybe they're waiting until they get paid.

"None of the guys are worried that it won't be full. Carisbrook is a special place to play and Dunedin treats us well.

"It's always great to come down here and we appreciate whatever support we get."

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES