Dylan Cleaver: Collins' controversial 'wet' weather tactic exposed

Jerry Collins' bizarre pre-match preparation was rudely exposed last night when he was, ahem, caught short on the blind side.

Suitably moved by the strains of Kapa O Pango - where the All Blacks defiantly refused to drop the controversial throat-slitting gesture - Collins felt a stirring in his loins.

So in front of 32,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience numbering several million, Collins dropped to his knee and let nature take its course in potentially the most talked about public urination since Mils Muliaina circumvented the queues for the toilets at a trendy Parnell bar.

Although Collins could face condemnation for not washing his hands afterwards, former All Blacks and a men's health worker say the nervous pee is quite common.

Clinical director of the Rojolie Clinic Jock Matthews said it was not uncommon for "pre-performance weeing" but that it was "a shame he did it on the field".

Matthews, a psychologist, sees a number of professional sports people who face "significant physical challenges" and said impromptu peeing was common in those "who want to do well".

Graham Henry then, you would presume, would have admired Collins' desire.

Former All Black Grahame Thorne said Collins was in illustrious company.

"Malcolm Dick was notorious for it," Thorne said. "I remember him doing it in the huddle at halftime in a test match at Eden Park."

While Thorne had no trouble dobbing his mate in, Lee Stensness was a little more discreet.

"It happens all the time," he said. "I remember it happening in an All Blacks trial once but I won't say who it was."

Stensness said he was surprised that Collins was left isolated.

"I couldn't believe it. It happens all the time but always in a huddle, never out in the open like that."

While Collins acted alone in watering the pitch, he was joined by his mates in the other pre-match ritual that is bound to stir up yet more controversy.

The All Blacks' controversial new haka was back on display after an internal review cleared it for use. "We need to promote understanding of haka," New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller said. "The concern about Kapa O Pango's final gesture makes that clear."

The gesture is an extravagant drawing of the thumb across the throat in the final throes of the haka. It has created a stir since it was first introduced against the Springboks last year. Composer Derek Lardelli said the "words and motions represent drawing vital energy into the heart and lungs".

Colmar Brunton was commissioned to poll more than 500 New Zealanders about Lardelli's new haka.

They found that 46 per cent of those polled thought the final gesture should be left as it was, with 37 per cent disapproving, while the rest did not know.

Eighty-eight per cent supported the All Blacks performing the haka before tests, but 25 per cent believed it was appropriate only to perform Ka Mate.

And the match... well, Collins was a standout performer in a pack that had the edge over their transtasman rivals.

Keven Mealamu scored a double and Richie McCaw, in his first Bledisloe Cup match as captain, scored as the All Blacks won 32-12.