International fixture/Barbarians v South Africa:Jerry Collins may be one of rugby's star attractions but the big-hitting All Black is determined to stay in touch with his amateur roots.
The debate over the Barbarians' role in the modern game has resurfaced during the build-up to today's clash with South Africa at Twickenham.
Collins eagerly accepted his invitation, a decision made all the easier by the fact he has been on holiday in Britain since the All Blacks' quarter-final exit from the World Cup. During that time the 27-year-old interrupted his holiday to play for Barnstaple's second team and ran a coaching session with the club's under-14s.
The gesture underlined the philosophy of a man unconvinced by critics who claim the Barbarians - managed today by Eddie O'Sullivan - are an anachronism that should have died with the advent of professionalism.
"During your career you want to represent your country, win a World Cup and - if you're lucky enough - play for the Barbarians," he said. "It's by invitation only and isn't one of those teams you can just join. They ask you to play because you're good enough to wear the strip.
"The ties with the amateur era are dying and it's difficult to get released for the Barbarians. But as long as guys are willing to jump on the plane and accept the invitation, I don't think the Barbarians will die."
Collins has yet to make any plans for his return to New Zealand as the dust settles on the All Blacks' World Cup failure. But he admits his appearance for Barnstaple, an amateur club, drew concerned looks from the rugby hierarchy back home.
"Staying over here you realise that maybe New Zealand is a bit naive. New Zealand thinks it's the only country that can play rugby," he said. "True, they love their rugby, but the people over here love it just as much."
Collins hopes to preserve the Barbarians' cavalier ethos today while toppling a South Africa line-up containing six World Cup winners, including star winger Bryan Habana.
"The Springboks will want to finish the season on a high and we'll take a lot of pride in preventing that," he said. "We know we're representing a world famous club and the last thing we want to do is embarrass ourselves by not putting the effort in."
BARBARIANS: J Robinson (England); J Rokocoko (New Zealand), C Smith (New Zealand), M Nonu (New Zealand), I Neivua (Fiji); M Giteau (Australia), J Marshall (New Zealand); F Pucciariello (Italy), M Regan (England, capt), S Ma'afu (Brumbies); B Cockbain (Wales), J Harrison (Australia); R Elsom (Australia), M Williams (Wales), J Collins (New Zealand). Replacements: S Brits (Stormers), JD Moller (Stormers), T Flavell (New Zealand), M Owen (Wales), T Shanklin (Wales), P Grant (Stormers), B Cohen (England).
SOUTH AFRICA: R Pienaar (Sharks); A Ndungane (Bulls), J Fourie (Lions), F Steyn (Sharks), B Habana (Bulls); A Pretorius (Lions), E Januarie (Lions); CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), B du Plessis (Sharks), J du Plessis (Cheetahs); J Muller (Sharks, capt), J Ackermann (Sharks); S Burger (Stormers), J Smith (Cheetahs), R Kankowski (Sharks). Replacements: T Liebenberg (Stormers), H van der Merwe (Lions), A van den Berg (Sharks), B Pieterse (Cheetahs), W Olivier (Bulls), W Julies (Bulls), C Jantjes (Lions).
Referee: C Berdos (France).
