All Black Collins on discipline alert
New Zealand flanker Jerry Collins feels players in the World Cup are walking a disciplinary tightrope following the recent smattering of citings to some of the tournament’s star names.
England captain Phil Vickery, South Africa flanker Schalk Burger and USA centre Paul Emerick have been hit with bans after being targeted by citing commissioners.
And it has made notorious All Blacks hard-man Collins aware of his responsibilities.
“It’s always at the back of your mind,” said the powerful back-row forward.
“It’s a long way to come for the tournament to end early. Everyone wants to be here for the full quota.
“I suppose it’s just luck of the draw who gets picked up or not picked up. But we are aware of it, and know it could be the end of the tournament.”
Collins, who will captain the Kiwis in their Pool C match against Portugal on Saturday, insists he will not change his style as a result.
“I didn’t come all this way to go 50/50,” he added.
“You never know when it’s going to be your last game, through loss of form or injury, so you don’t want your last game to be 50/50.”
“We have to play the way we play.”
