Banned Collins out of Tri-Nations decider

ALL BLACKS flanker Jerry Collins will miss the Tri-Nations rugby decider against Australia after receiving a two-week ban yesterday for punching in the crucial 31-27 Test win over South Africa.

Collins was cited for punching replacement Springboks fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen after a brawl broke out following a scrum in Saturday’s match in Dunedin.

A judiciary committee found Collins’ punching was excessive and disproportionate to the threat from the opponent and banned him from all rugby until September 10, ruling him out of next Saturday’s deciding Test in Auckland.