Collins' Super 12 start delayed until late March
by Huw Turner
January 23, 2001

The Auckland Blues' flanker Justin Collins is not expected to make his seasonal reappearancein 2001 until the end of March.

The 26 year old found himself at the centre of an unseemly tussle between the NZRFU and Australian RU in September after the Australian-born player semed to be on the verge of moving back across the Tasman to stake a claim for a Wallaby jersey.

However, selection for the end of season New Zealand A tour to Europe convinced Collins he still had a bright future in New Zealand and he then re-signed for the Blues' 2001 campaign and transferred from Northland to Auckland for the 2001 NPC.

A shoulder injury sustained on the tour meant that when the Super 12 sides were announced in December, North Harbour's Craig Newby was included as cover until Collins returned to fitness. Newby is currently away on New Zealand sevens duty in Argentina and at training today in Auckland Collins' participation was restricted to carrying water bottles for his colleagues. Liquid replenishment was essential as the temperatures soared in the midday heat.

Tama Tuirirangi, one of the three tighthead props on a week's trial with the Blues, had to endure the frustration of sitting today's session out, his thigh heavily strapped as a result of an earlier injury sustained by the Taranaki forward.

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