Prop Michael Collins has seen it all since coming into the Chiefs Super 12 rugby side in 1997.
But the 1999 Chiefs skipper, who turns 30 on Monday, has never experienced the level of confidence that exists within the 2004 rugby squad.
Collins, known as "Ferdie" since he moved from Taranaki to Waikato when he left school, is the most capped Chief.
He plays his 75th Super 12 match on Saturday when the home side take on leaders the Brumbies at Waikato Stadium with a first visit to the semifinals at stake.
"We've come down to the last game and we've got something to play for, which has happened in the past but we've always had to rely on other teams as well," said Collins, who is one of the unsung heroes of the hard-working Chiefs pack.
"There's a real confidence in the team and it's been there all year. It's something that Fozzie (head coach Ian Foster) has somehow drummed into us."
First-year coach Foster has been high in his praise for Collins this season. He said the front-rower, who has always been known for his mobility and ball skills, had taken a big step up with his scrummaging to reclaim his starting spot in the face of a challenge from young Bay of Plenty prop Simms Davison.
Injuries ruined his 2000 and 2001 seasons but Collins, whose career in New Zealand at the time looked in the balance, came back with a new attitude, determined to make enjoyment of his rugby the No 1 priority.
"I decided not to put as much pressure on myself. I told myself to just go out there and do my job, which I'd probably got away from a bit."
Collins said his scrummaging improved because he had returned to concentrating on that after getting lazy in that area in recent seasons.
"When I first started out playing rugby at this level my scrummaging was never an issue, but then I think maybe I got a bit lazy and didn't put as much work into it as I should have."
Collins said the rugby they played now had evolved considerably since the start of Super 12 in 1996. It was more structured and the preparation smarter, with the coaches incorporating the specialist knowledge of trainer Dr Nic Gill to best advantage.
"When we first started off, they probably tried to over-train us to justify paying us as professional rugby players but now they've got everything down to a fine art."
As for his 75th game for the Chiefs: "It's just another number really. Those cheeky young buggers keep calling me the veteran but it's just nice to still be playing with these guys."
Meanwhile the Chiefs-Brumbies match was expected to become a sellout later today, with Chiefs marketing manager Pat Mellsop reporting only 208 Greenzone standing area tickets remaining at 8.30am. Waikato Stadium has a 25,000 capacity.
- NZPA
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