Jerry Collins to Ospreys

thomond2006

Ospreys sign ex-All Black Collins


Jerry Collins lays the ball back against Wales in 2006

The Ospreys have signed ex-All Blacks' back-row Jerry Collins, 28, on a two-year deal from French side Toulon. Collins is the Ospreys' first major signing since Scott Johnson's appointment as coaching boss.
Ospreys elite performance director Andrew Hore said of Collins: "He is a proven world-class performer."
Collins' manager Tim Castle told the NZ Sunday News: "The Ospreys and Jerry are coming together for the next couple of years, I can confirm that."
Hore added: "[Collins] brings with him both a real hard edge and 'go-forward' ability, as well as an uncompromising attitude on and off the field.
"He will complement the other loose forwards that we have at the Ospreys and, importantly, will be available for selection throughout the season, providing valuable cover for the times when we lose so many players to the Welsh side.

"As an organisation, we have always looked to bring in people of real quality from outside the region when we feel that they have the right characteristics to complement what we already have here, and Jerry Collins certainly fits that description."
Hore was also keen to emphasise the Ospreys commitment to developing home-grown talent.
He added: "The Ospreys remain 100 per cent committed to producing home grown talent and are immensely proud of our record in bringing through players for both the Ospreys and Wales teams.

The Ospreys remain 100 per cent committed to producing home grown talent



Andrew Hore

"As we have shown before, there are occasions where we need to go outside of the region to identify and recruit true leaders in their field, who can help to develop and nurture our own young talent.
"In Jerry Collins we have certainly got a true leader."
Collins announced his retirement from international rugby in May 2008 and despite Toulon having a star-studded squad, the French club's progress has been dogged by difficulties.
The Samoan-born forward made 48 appearances in the All Blacks' back-row, starting against Argentina in 2003 and ending in New Zealand's 20-18 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by France in Cardiff.
Castle added: "Jerry played his 20th game for Toulon... and it's acknowledged by the club that he's played a critical role in keeping Toulon up in the Top 14.
"Jerry is excited about the new challenge of playing for the Ospreys and also the opportunity to play in the Heineken Cup.
"He recognises the great traditions of the two clubs [Swansea and Neath] which merge to form the Ospreys, as well as the great tradition of the game in Wales and these are factors in his move."
On Friday Collins helped Toulon ensured their place in the French top flight next season by pushing pushing fellow relegation strugglers Dax through the trapdoor with a 22-12 win.

myflipflops

I watched him play for Toulon last night against Dax. Played well and looked sharp for about the first time in his stay in France.

If he stays injury free and his attitude is good then he will be a great signing for then.

copacetic

He is some player, but not as impressive the last couple of years imo

Stev_o

Waste of money. He's turned into a journeyman after the cash now.

chupacabra

Guess this means TiaTia is hanging up his boots after this season. Good signing for the Ospreys but i wouldnt be too afraid of him.

anonymous_joe

Stev_o wrote: »

Waste of money. He's turned into a journeyman after the cash now.

Nah, he's left Toulon. :pac:

Now he's a world class mercenary.

Tbh hard to know, could be a Michael Owen-esque disaster, or could be quality.

sm.org

Stev_o wrote: »

Waste of money. He's turned into a journeyman after the cash now.

Bit harsh seeing as he was on more money at Toulon. Stated he moved cos he wanted to win the HC.

danthefan

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Tbh hard to know, could be a Michael Owen-esque disaster, or could be quality.

Low blow.

ironingbored

Rocky will 'ave him for breakfast!

zAbbo

Another great player to come to the ML.

Look forward to seeing him in the RDS

anonymous_joe

danthefan wrote: »

Low blow.

Hardly.

He's an anachronism, a goal-poacher in a game that's moved on, whose trading on his past and hasn't done anything in what, three or four years? He's past it.

danthefan

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Hardly.

He's an anachronism, a goal-poacher in a game that's moved on, whose trading on his past and hasn't done anything in what, three or four years? He's past it.

You talking about Collins or Owen there? Collins was an AB regular until 2007, there's no comparison between him and Michael Owen.

Edit - you're talking about Michael Owen the soccer player, not Michael Owen the rugby player aren't you?

anonymous_joe

danthefan wrote: »

You talking about Collins or Owen there? Collins was an AB regular until 2007, there's no comparison between him and Michael Owen.

Edit - you're talking about Michael Owen the soccer player, not Michael Owen the rugby player aren't you?

Yeah, Michael Owen of Newcastle. ^^

There's a rugby one too?

Collins hasn't doen much since 2007, but he's an unreal talent. Could be amazing if he recaptures his love of the game.

danthefan

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Yeah, Michael Owen of Newcastle. ^^

There's a rugby one too?

Collins hasn't doen much since 2007, but he's an unreal talent. Could be amazing if he recaptures his love of the game.

Yeah he's a backrow, Wales captain a few years back.

gcgirl

i was thinking the soccer player too :-(

Gelio

I think its a good signing

anonymous_joe

danthefan wrote: »

Yeah he's a backrow, Wales captain a few years back.

Ah, makes the confusion understandable.

gcgirl wrote: »

i was thinking the soccer player too :-(

Well that's who I was comparing him to.

Fishtits

He's a great signing, but.

As have many of the SH guys have realised, its tough up here, they don't have the forgiving crowd. Produce or die.

Until he comes up with the goods he's nobody.

thomond2006

Fishtits wrote: »

Until he comes up with the goods he's nobody.

+1

Well said.

Serenity Now!

Fishtits wrote: »

He's a great signing, but.

As have many of the SH guys have realised, its tough up here, they don't have the forgiving crowd. Produce or die.

Until he comes up with the goods he's nobody.

:rolleyes:
I remember when people said the same about the likes of Mafi and Elsom. Jez Collins is a top player full stop. Not only a nugget of a tackler and ball-carrier but an excellent link-player too.
He'll do well with a pack like the Ospreys have.

thomond2006

Serenity Now! wrote: »

:rolleyes:
He'll do well with a pack like the Ospreys have.

You call that a pack?

**** it, why didn't he come to Munster?

NICK WILLIAMS OUT, COLLINS IN PLEASE!

anonymous_joe

Serenity Now! wrote: »

:rolleyes:
I remember when people said the same about the likes of Mafi and Elsom. Jez Collins is a top player full stop. Not only a nugget of a tackler and ball-carrier but an excellent link-player too.
He'll do well with a pack like the Ospreys have.

I've seen him play for New Zealand and just be awesome, just amazing.

But I've seen a bit of Toulon and he's been awful.

He's young enough to still be a supreme rugby player, and I hope he gets that back, but he's not been at the top for a couple of yaers. Will take a good coach to get him functioning again.

Podge_irl

sm.org wrote: »

Bit harsh seeing as he was on more money at Toulon. Stated he moved cos he wanted to win the HC.

So he moved to the Ospreys...

sm.org

Podge_irl wrote: »

So he moved to the Ospreys...

at least they're in it next season

Bit of an over reaction with the thread title.Most players are in their peak at 28,Collins is a shadow.

Toulon would have been more than happy to ditch him,he was there for the pay cheque and nothing else.Hopefully he actually bothers with the Ospreys.

Junior

Podge_irl wrote: »

So he moved to the Ospreys...

Aye that's a strange oxymoronic statement alright about HC and Hairsprays..

yogidc26

can only be good for the ML having him in it

Webbs

thomond2006 wrote: »

You call that a pack?

**** it, why didn't he come to Munster?

NICK WILLIAMS OUT, COLLINS IN PLEASE!

If they can play as a unit and not individuals then they will have a great pack with Collins and Ian Evans returning and hopefully staying clear of injury for a while, as has potential to be more important to the Ospreys pack than Collins.
It all comes down to how Scott Johnson can do as head coach - only time will tell

danthefan

They badly need Ryan Jones to get back to his best.

Noopti

I saw the thread title and was expecting something incredible.

Jerry Collins to Ospreys......? :rolleyes:

He was a great player, but he can't trade on past reputation alone. He will need to prove himself again.

Podge_irl

Webbs wrote: »

If they can play as a unit and not individuals then they will have a great pack with Collins and Ian Evans returning and hopefully staying clear of injury for a while, as has potential to be more important to the Ospreys pack than Collins.
It all comes down to how Scott Johnson can do as head coach - only time will tell

Ospreys are unfortunately the textbook definition of "less than the sum of their parts".

escobar

zAbbo wrote: »

Another great player to come to the ML.

Look forward to seeing him in the RDS

The ML is really getting incredibly strong......... It's great to see the ML attracting such high profile players from france, especially when for example the GP is hemmoraging players to the french league..........

Looks like we'll keep the title of the preeminent league in the northern hemisphere....

I wonder if we can get 4 ML teams in the HC semis next year...:)

Serenity Now!

escobar wrote: »

The ML is really getting incredibly strong......... It's great to see the ML attracting such high profile players from france, especially when for example the GP is hemmoraging players to the french league..........

The ML apparently getting stronger is a by-product and nothing more. The ML isn't attracting these players. The ERC is.
Obviously with Toulon getting nowhere near an ERC campaign, Collins has checked out his options in other provincial/club teams elsewhere.

Depp

Holah, Ryan Jones And Collins Will Be Quite The Back-Row

escobar

Serenity Now! wrote: »

The ML apparently getting stronger is a by-product and nothing more. The ML isn't attracting these players. The ERC is.
Obviously with Toulon getting nowhere near an ERC campaign, Collins has checked out his options in other provincial/club teams elsewhere.

I dunno...... three teams out of ten being in the top four in europe this year is no mean feat...:rolleyes:
The ML has the alltime NZ top try scorer and the Aussie player of the year etc etc


Not that I agree with your assertion about the ML and erc but it doesn't really matter what attracts the players it's the ML that benefits and gets stronger and stronger.....

Serenity Now!

escobar wrote: »

The ERC has the retired from S14 and international rugby alltime NZ top try scorer and the Aussie player of the year etc etc

There ya go

danthefan

Podge_irl wrote: »

Ospreys are unfortunately the textbook definition of "less than the sum of their parts".

It's definitely a strange one. There are good players right through the team but they just don't have the mentality I guess.

anonymous_joe

Podge_irl wrote: »

Ospreys are unfortunately the textbook definition of "less than the sum of their parts".

Bingo.

And what parts!

A backline of Philips, Hook, Henson, Bowe with Nikki Walker, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne outside them is just unreal. As good on paper as Leinster's, Munster's or Cardiff's.

Their pack is full of internationals.

They're just absolutely incapable of fusing all those elements together. Then again, with a proper coach next season, they might do better.

CatFromHue

i thought the opsreys had no coach this season, or the coach let and wasnt replaced.
they won the magners league the season before, so with a coach they can be alot better.
but i agree with alot of people once o gara kicked the penalty to put them 9-6(i think) in the heineken quarter final in thomand it was game over.

dingbat

I really, REALLY hope that Henson steps onto the pitch next season with a Jerry Collins bleached special.

zenmonk

I reckon the Sprays will benefit from this, they are a decent side and eventually will win the HCup.