Thanks Jerry, you were awesome!

Munster beat Toulouse 16-13 in a minor boilover in the Heinken Cup Final at Cardiff on Sunday. The match was a nailbiter down to the final whistle, with Munster controlling the ball for long stretches camped in the French-sides' 22 and Ronan O'Gara slotted for a drop goal. But much like the All Blacks in their fateful RWC semi-final last year, Munster elected to kill the clock by continuous recycling, and except for a few nervous knock-ons that put the pill back into the hands of the French, their tactic ultimately prevailed.

In the Super 14 semis, the home side Crusaders and Waratahs easily defeated their visitors, the Hurricanes and Sharks respectively. The Sharks were particularly inept. The Crusaders host the Waratahs in the S14 Final early Saturday morning in Christchurch.

But the big talking point for me was the end o' Crusaders game, with Hurricanes (and All Blacks) legend Jerry Collins taking his teams' final conversion (old skool, and successful!) at games' end ...



Long-time JerryCo-holics (e.g. this blogger!) worried the conversion might portend something ominous. We didn't have long to wait...

Jerry Collins calls it a day

All Blacks and Wellington stalwart Jerry Collins has announced his retirement from rugby in New Zealand.

Collins says the time was right to move on.

"Actually from today, I am unemployed," Collins, 27, told a press conference at New Zealand Rugby Union headquarters in Wellington today.

His future plans remain a mystery, perhaps even to him. ...

My two fave rugby players the past decade have been Tana Umaga and Jerry Collins, both now retired. I guess mah boy now is Brad Thorn, but he's getting near retirement age too. Good things never last, Mr. Denham.

Collins deserves his epitaph. It should read: "No one tried harder."

Post-script: Reading tea leaves and writing on the wall

All Black coach Graham Henry reveals that Jerry was not going to be selected for the ABs.

Henry has also announcd a new-look All Black squad.