You need to understand MSA. Collins didn't, if he had half a clue about operating an aircraft to the SOPs he wouldn't have descended. Air NZ were smart enough to know you couldn't just throw an aircraft into a cloud break.
He didn't even have Nav info off mcmurdo.
He should have flown the aircraft as he was paid to do and on the day in those conditions not descended.
You need to read the report.
The Nav section didn't plot a course below area MSA, there was nothing unsafe about the route they gave him on the day.
So the Nav section should have said "if you decide to throw airmanship and common sense out the window and dispense with the requirements of the SOP and laugh at the US military who have lost plenty of aircraft in the area while operating down there for the last 50 years because on the basis of your experience flying a hundred flights to and from LA you know best then....."