Collins has made a hasty exit from All Black rugby, announcing his shock decision to quit just a day before coach Graham Henry said his former first-choice blindside flanker would not have been picked anyway.
The blond-topped Hurricanes enforcer will no doubt eventually turn up in France or England to get a few more seasons out of a body beaten all shades of blue in a 48-test career.
As always at a time like this, the focus goes on who will be the next man to wear the jersey. Already, Henry has indicated who is in contention by selecting specialist blindsides Jerome Kaino and Adam Thomson in a training group alongside loose forward options Sione Lauaki and Anthony Boric.
The future looks grim for Chris Masoe, the jack of all trades who has been both Collins' and openside Richie McCaw's regular deputy for three years. Specialists are back in vogue, and that is how it should be, former All Black flanker Alan Whetton says.
Whetton redefined the role of the blindside in his 65-game, 35-test career between 1984 and 1991. He has been watching the Super 14 closely and is confident in the ability of two players, in particular, to replace Collins.
"The two guys that stick out to me are Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read. I think they are by far the two most promising No 6s in the competition," Whetton told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
"Kaino and Read are good options there, and I'm really pleased that it looks like they're going to pick specialists."
Whetton believes Kaino was previously picked to play for the All Blacks before he was ready.
"There have a been a few players like that. He suffered a bit because he was picked too early. He's come back a more mature and experienced player. He just seems to exude a bit more confidence now."
Read has ensured the Crusaders have not had to fret about the advancing age and subsequent departure of stalwart flanker Reuben Thorne.
The strapping Read was a Counties-Manukau product but had clearly responded to the coaching of Robbie Deans and the Crusaders culture, Whetton said.
"Read's just another product of that environment. He's slotted in well, he's thrived and he's showing his class every week now. To me, he's got all the attributes of a top-class blindside.
"It's now just a matter of getting experience and the mental part of his game tuned up. He's got time on his side and we'll see what happens this year."
Whetton rates Thomson, who came almost from nowhere to be the talk of the Highlanders this season, as the next-best option on the blind.
"He's been a real impact player. He's been constructive and a bit of a leader in his position. The Highlanders obviously struggled but he was consistent. His form didn't suffer at all and he can be very proud of that. I think he's nuggety and no-nonsense and he seems to apply himself to his job."
Whetton praised Collins for his efforts over eight seasons in the All Blacks.
"Jerry's obviously done an extremely good job because he's been a mainstay in the side for so long. He's done his time and he's done it well, and he can hold his head up high. He joins a list of very good players who have worn the No 6 jersey for the All Blacks.
"He was very different. Obviously he was more of the aggressor, a real physical combatant. At times maybe he showed a lack of sight and reading of the game. But he had real attributes and brought some interesting strengths to the role."
Whetton was reluctant to directly compare Collins, or the Collins-Richie McCaw-Rodney So'oialo loose forward combination, with former All Blacks.
He said Collins had to have been disappointed with his performances this season, and there was no doubt other players now deserved their chance in his position.
