 Collins was caught short at Jade Stadium on Saturday |
New Zealand rugby bosses have defended All Blacks flanker Jerry Collins after he was seen urinating on the pitch before the match against Australia. Television cameras at Jade Stadium in Christchurch captured images of Collins kneeling and urinating on the grass minutes before kick-off.
All Blacks co-coach Steve Hansen said the incident was "unfortunate".
"He did his best to hide it. It'd be really good if we didn't make a big issue of it," said Hansen.
Edited footage of the incident was played in national television bulletins in New Zealand on Sunday.
Hansen added: "If you're a male and you're about to play a Test match and you're seconds away from kick-off and you get the urge to want to go to the toilet what do you do?
"Do you rush off and let the game start with 14 men? Or do you try to be as discreet as you can be and hope that cameramen use common sense and don't go showing it to everyone on the screen?"
Hansen said he would speak to Collins about the incident, advising him to "get your ablutions done before you get out on the track".
New Zealand beat Australia 32-12 in the Tri-Nations opener on Saturday.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 