All Blacks: Ex-lock says public feels more pressure to win

Keith Robinson after France's shock win against the All Blacks at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Former All Black Keith Robinson now works in a hydroponics lettuce factory and grows and sells pigs. But he knows all too well about the mental challenges facing the current crop of All Black stars and says it is New Zealanders themselves who are feeling the most pressure to win the Rugby World Cup.

Robinson was part of the failed 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign but never watched that fateful match against the French.

"To be honest, the pressure's built up from the outside more than on the inside of camp, I think. You know the expectations and you want to win every game. We'd all love to win the World Cup," he told Radio Sport.

"I truly believe that the pressure New Zealanders are feeling is a lot more than in the All Blacks camp itself. [The players are] very driven to win it, there's no doubt about that, but they are also very good at turning that pressure into excitement to prepare the best they can."

Robinson is uncomfortable with the "chokers" label placed on All Blacks World Cup teams of the past.

"I hate that word. Looking back to that '07 camp, I don't think we could have done anything better myself, it just felt like we were so ready for that game.

"In 80 minutes of rugby, it just didn't work out and that's the way rugby goes. People look back and analyse the hell out of it but when you're in the camp at the time, we were confident we had what it took to do the job.

He said the current players have probably looked at the 2007 campaign in a lot more detail. Atoning for that loss with a resounding win against France on the weekend was very satisfying for Robinson.

"I was really proud of the way the boys did the job there. It was pretty emotional watching it."

- Herald Online