Henry concerned about Robinson

Keith Robinson. Picture / Greg Bowker

All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry is increasingly consigned to being without tough lock Keith Robinson for the series against the British and Irish Lions in just over four months.

Robinson's lower back underwent surgery for a second time late last year and is providing the sole injury headache for Henry among leading All Blacks candidates.

Henry repeated his call for the Waikato and Chiefs lock to be eased back into the game or risk ending his career prematurely aged 28.

"We're very keen for Keith to be right ... (but) there's no point in rushing it," Henry said yesterday.

"It's important for us to be patient. If that means he doesn't have the opportunity to play international rugby until later in the year then that's the way it is."

Chiefs coach Ian Foster had indicated to Henry that it would be at least April, more than halfway through the Super 12, before Robinson would be back on the field.

Henry said Robinson had been positive in conversations with him over the past month.

"He's pleased with his progress," Henry said.

"He's hunting, shooting and fishing. He's killed a few pigs. And he's doing a lot of walking.

"His back's feeling good. He's more worried about his knee at the moment, which has always been a question mark.

"He's a very good footballer and showed that against the English team in particular (last year). He brings a hard edge."

Henry makes his first contact of the year with the New Zealand Super 12 franchises from today, when he visits the Highlanders in Dunedin. He then joins the Hurricanes (tomorrow), Crusaders (Thursday), Blues (Monday) and Chiefs (Tuesday).

Henry wouldn't go into details about his message to coaches and players.

He would tell players about what the selectors would be looking for this year and how they watched individuals play in matches. He would also discuss how he believed the Lions would play.

The All Blacks players on last year's season-ending tour "improved their rankings", in the selectors' eyes, Henry said.

"You've got to give a huge amount of credit to the guys who went on the end of year tour. They did very well.

"But they know better than anyone that nobody's an automatic selection for the All Blacks.

"It's going to be on how they perform, particularly in the latter part of the Super 12 and the finals."

- NZPA