"I'm not going to make any qualms about it. It's bloody hard. But it's inevitable, it's the way of the world. You've either got to jump on it, and be part of it, or you can not jump on it and miss out altogether," he said.
Edicts from Henry, however, do not always hit home with Collins who was detected one weekend playing both a club game and then turning out for his Wellington provincial side while supposed to be resting between All Blacks Tests.
Not that Collins always ignores Henry, and he acknowledges his game is no longer one-dimensional as, at his coach's insistence, he has developed a pass, a swerve and on rare occasions a kick.
"I have tried to work on different things to fit the job description the boss wants -- if the boss wants you to upskill you have to do that to stay in the team," he said.
But no matter what range of skills Collins develops he will always be known as the All Blacks' enforcer who impresses even his All Blacks colleagues.
"He's got a lot of presence on the field. It's huge really," loose forward partner Rodney So'oialo said.
"Anyone who plays against him is usually pretty scared, though they might not admit it. They're always wondering when he's coming," So'oialo said.
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