KEY POINTS:
It would be no surprise if lock Keith Robinson beats the caterers, ground staff and keenest of All Blacks fans through the Jade Stadium gates ahead of Saturday night's Tri-Nations rugby test against South Africa.
Nobody could begrudge him a few extra hours of stretching in readiness for
his long-awaited first test of the 2007 season.
It should have unfolded a month ago at Wellington but minutes before the second test kicked off against France, scar tissue from an old calf muscle problem flared during a drill - the latest in Robinson's bulging catalogue of injuries.
The 30-year-old has logged just eight tests since his debut five years ago and all manner of ailments have prevented him becoming a permanent fixture under coach Graham Henry.
Robinson was happy enough to reflect on his misfortune at Westpac Stadium, saying his initial fury at missing the test only took about a day to subside.
"I've got used to dealing with injury," he said.
"At the time you think it's the end of the world but you get over it pretty quick because you have to really.
"Deep down I knew I wouldn't be playing that night as soon as I did it.
"I could have played on it but I knew the chance of ripping it open meant it probably wasn't worth it."
Robinson was too gutted to watch the test from the stands, choosing to sit alone with just the dressing room television for company.
That was until he was joined after half an hour by locking partner Ali Williams, sporting a broken jaw.
"Then I didn't feel so bad. There's a lot worse injuries out there than a torn calf but it's still not easy to deal with."
Robinson has a Wellington jinx, having pulled out in the leadup to the 2004 test against Australia when it was found he needed a second back operation.
That sidelined him for more than two years and was expected to end his All Blacks career.
Henry said the Robinson story was an "unbelievable" one and he had no qualms returning him to test level despite not playing for more than six weeks.
The Waikato hard man said he always backed his fitness levels, having come back from breaks so often.
"You can't beat match fitness but I think excitement and my desire to play will get me through most games."
Assistant coach Steve Hansen believed Robinson would provide an infusion of steel to an All Blacks team who weren't mentally on song in their loss to Australia at Melbourne.
"He's a great attitude-setter because he does everything at 110 (percent) plus and he trains exactly like he plays. If you get in the way, you get run over," Hansen said.
"It's great. People know where they stand and it lifts the attitude of the people around him."
It will be Robinson's first Tri-Nations test, with England (four times), Wales (twice), France and the Pacific Islanders on his record sheet.
- NZPA
