All Black's accuser admits violent past

By PAUL YANDALL and NZPA

The man threatening to lay a complaint of assault against All Black Jerry Collins has a violent history that includes convictions for assault.

Auckland sports fanatic Sonny Shaw claims the loose forward punched him in the neck in Wellington after the All Blacks' victory over France on June 30.

The 51-year-old Auckland accountant, who is a popular figure at sporting events and travels the world supporting national teams, confirmed yesterday that he had a criminal past, including convictions for assault.

But Mr Shaw said Collins could learn from him, and the anger he saw in Collins that night reminded him of his own violent past.

"All I'm saying is that I tried to help him. I could see a lot of anger in him and could see a lot of a young me in him. And with my bad experiences, I just wanted to help him. Instead of anger I turned it into passion, my passion of sport."

The All Blacks team management cleared Collins of the punching accusation after an inquiry last Sunday.

Collins maintains that he merely pushed Mr Shaw outside Wellington's Sports Cafe bar about 4 am on July 1.

The incident followed a confrontation inside the bar between Collins and Hutt Old Boys Marist player Kahu Tamatea an hour earlier. Last week, Collins publicly apologised for that clash.

All Blacks team manager Andrew Martin said yesterday that, after a further inquiry, he was satisfied Collins had shoved Mr Shaw rather than punched him.

"Two independent witnesses have subsequently verified this. If Mr Shaw has a legitimate complaint, he should go to the police. But the NZRU and the All Blacks have nothing to apologise for."

Mr Shaw said he was still upset over the incident and could not believe the "dirty tactics" used by some to keep him quiet about the incident.

"If they are that desperate to get me to drop any allegation that they go and dig up my past, then that's quite sickening. It's a low blow," Mr Shaw said.

"I came forward because I thought it would help. I don't want to see All Blacks fighting in public. Now, I've had a gutsful of this whole thing."

Mr Shaw said he was not a violent man and was not a person who would provoke others. He disputed some allegations levelled against him since he spoke out.

"What's all this got to do with me going to a rugby test in Wellington and getting punched in the throat? Half of these are false and malicious. They have nothing to do with me."