RUGBY - Milestone for Collins motivates boys in blue

Justin "Gus" Collins has faced all sorts of opposition, but when he finished rugby training with Northland yesterday he had all his worst rugby nightmares come true.
Suddenly he was face to face with someone who knew all the secrets that have enabled him to play 99 games of rugby for Northland, nearly 50 for Auckland and more than 70 for the Blues Super 14 team: Himself.
Not just himself either, himself 20 times over, and he wasn't too sure how to deal with it.
As part of the celebrations to mark his 100th game for the province when Northland plays Counties-Manukau at Homeworld Stadium in Whangarei on Sunday, the first 1000 children who arrive in Northland garb will be issued with an official "Gus Mask".
"No," was Collins' reaction.
"No, no, no, no, no," was his second.
"Surely, this isn't happening. As long as the boys don't find out."
Whoops, might have let the cat out of the bag there, sorry. Much to Collins' horror yesterday, the first 26 masks arrived at training, and soon turned the practice run into a shambles.
The milestone will be a big motivating factor for the team when they step out against Counties-Manukau, but yesterday it enabled the team to lampoon their captain.
He should have been flattered, for a few precious seconds, they all wanted to be Gus. It was a sight that cheered the heart of Northland coach Mark Anscombe too - he wouldn't mind if 15 Gus Collins' turned up to play on Sunday as well.
"It is actually a weakness that we need those extra motivations to get us up sometimes. You shouldn't need it but they all love they guy and and I just hope the crowd get out here at the stadium to support this occasion," Anscombe said.
"It is something special that we can honour him with for his services, we owe him that and if we can't get up for that we shouldn't be here."
"It is a big occasion come Sunday for Gus. Everyone wants him to enjoy the day and give him something memorable. But to do that they have all got to play with the sort of commitment he plays with every weekend."
But for a start Collins needs to get himself into shape so he can play on Sunday. He is one of a bunch of players who were only bit-part participants at training yesterday.
"(Steve) Baker and (Dan) Goodwin both couldn't train today. Baker has been crook and vomiting and Goodwin has had a scan of his ankle, we are waiting for the outcome of that. Tony Coughlan has a back we have to be careful with, Rene Ranger's ankle, Gus' neck. Apart from that we're all good. I am hoping all will be fit and available come Sunday," Anscombe said.
All fit and available Goodwin is expected to start ahead of Baker and Ranger making a strong case for inclusion at fullback.
The starting teams for Sunday's game will be confirmed tomorrow.