Reuters.com
Mon Jul 10, 2006. WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand has reacted with indifference to Jerry Collins's unplanned call of nature before the Tri-Nations match against Australia Saturday.
The loose forward was caught on camera on bended knee, discreetly relieving himself on the pitch moments before kickoff.
Assistant New Zealand coach Steve Hansen described the incident as unfortunate.
"If you're a male and you're about to play a test match and you're seconds away from kickoff and you get the urge to want to go to the toilet -- what do you do?" Hansen said.
"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."
The New Zealand public also seemed unconcerned about the incident, with almost two-thirds of respondents to an Internet poll on the Fairfax media group's website (www.stuff.co.nz) saying it did not bother them at all.
Hansen said he would be offering Collins simple advice.
"'See if you can get your ablutions done before you get out on the track'," he said.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
