Fit Collins is ready to lead Auckland

Justin Collins

Justin Collins was unsure whether he would pull on a pair of rugby boots ever again a year ago.

But he will lead Auckland against the Lions on Tuesday night and, should Xavier Rush's problems with glandular fever linger, he might also lead them in the NPC.

But as he prepared to undergo an operation last July for an irregular heartbeat - which sometimes reached a staggering 230 beats per minute - Collins' career hung in the balance.

He had endured three years of breathlessness, bewilderment, drugs, and problems with "capturing" the atrial fibrillation (AF) on an ECG machine.

The usually super-fit Collins could no longer keep pace.

"I didn't know where I was heading," said Collins yesterday. "And I had no idea what the results of the operation would be and the medical people didn't really know either.

"It is a pretty young operation, only five or six years old, and I can't tell you whether there have been many professional athletes who have had it."

A year on, the operation is a complete success. Collins is drug-free, and needs only brief check-ups. He was firing on all cylinders during the Super 12, although he got limited game time.

So the Justin Collins rugby story, which began for Northland against France in 1994, has a few chapters left, and all in this country.

The 31-year-old Australian-born Collins nearly signed for the Waratahs when Wallaby opensides Brett Robinson and David Wilson were closing their careers, and Phil Waugh and George Smith had yet to emerge.

Collins re-signed with New Zealand at the last minute, and has since won two NPC titles and a Super 12 crown. Apart from the Waratahs bid, he never sought an overseas club. "I'm glad I stayed, to win those titles, and because I'm still playing," he said.

With Rush in quarantine, he is Auckland's wise old head, and his voice will be especially vital because of the limited preparation of just four training sessions.

Collins has closely followed the Lions midweek team and believes they will be unified and motivated by their failure to make the test team.

Having played all three loose forward positions, Collins will play at blindside.

He has never captained a side before - apart from taking over during games - and will be proud when he leads his team on to Eden Park.

"It's something I've wanted to do for a while," he said. "I wouldn't envy a player captaining from openside - the position is so fast and you are involved in everything. But you've got a little more time at No 6.

"It's exciting seeing the enthusiasm of the guys, especially in the last couple of days.

"What I went through helps put life in perspective, as does having a young family. My career was up in the air so to have made the Super 12 and to captain Auckland ... it's a privilege."