KEY POINTS:
Keith Robinson says both he and the All Blacks are more mature rugby models than when he made his debut at Twickenham four years ago.
All eyes will be on the 29-year-old lock from Te Aroha when he lines up against England in Monday morning's test, looking to
see whether he can inject the sort of steel and lineout efficiency that has seen him rushed back into the black jersey.
It comes just 41 days after making a shock return to rugby for Waikato but more than two years after the intense pain of two bulging discs appeared to have destroyed a burgeoning career at just six tests.
Memories of 2002 when a raw-boned Robinson went away as part of John Mitchell's second-string tour squad have returned this week but, crucially, this time he knows what to expect.
"Maybe I was a little bit young and green when I first went away on that tour," he said.
"It was a bit of a surprise to get named in that side but it was definitely an experience worth going through and I just think I'm a little bit more aware, a bit more ready for it."
The same goes for the team. The All Blacks have moved on considerably since 2002 but also since 2004 when Robinson made a second coming in the early tests under Graham Henry.
"Everything about the All Blacks is probably enhanced a little bit. They've certainly grown as a team, they've put a lot of work into that and it's just awesome to be part of it," he said.
"There's a lot of honesty in the team. If someone's not doing something, the boys let them know.
"It's a tight bunch."
The number of leaders supporting captain Richie McCaw impressed Robinson as did the attitude to continually seek improvement.
"We're never going to get comfortable."
Robinson reckoned he was slower than two years ago, but smarter.
"It was good to sit back for two years and watch what was happening with the game, what was happening with the locks.
"I still run around but probably not as much as I did. I don't need to be everywhere, I've prioritised things in my game."
Robinson was comfortable with his reputation as an enforcer, somebody who will play to the limit of the laws at the collision area to give his team an inch of advantage.
He admitted he had crossed the line previously -- and not always been caught for it. Learning where to tread in the fine line between tough and overly rough play was the secret.
Often he didn't realise he had overstepped until he reviewed tapes of games he played.
"It's experience. I've maybe been lucky in the past with some of the things I've done. Hopefully I can be a bit wiser in the decisions I make."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry is a long-time admirer of Robinson, having kept his fingers crossed for 2-1/2 years that he would overcome his knee and back problems.
"We've kept in touch over the 2-1/2 years, fairly regularly, just asking him how his health was," Henry said.
"He's always had the desire to get back but he's had a few challenges on the way."
Because of his injuries, Robinson was to be nursed through this tour. But to his delight, he has trained fully through the first week, his knee responding well to the work.
"It's never going to be 100 per cent ever. But it hasn't got any worse so I'm stoked."
Robinson's return has turned the race for All Blacks locking jerseys into an electric one. He admitted there was a competitive feeling between he, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jason Eaton and James Ryan.
"Of course there's going to be, there's five guys scrapping it out for two spots.
"It's good. We get on well off the field but even at training there's competition and that's what you want.
"We're going to push each other to become better locks and whatever happens, I'm pretty sure that the All Blacks second row will be in good hands."
- NZPA
