Gatland on right path to country's best

Keith Robinson of Waikato easily takes the ball on Saturday. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

Waikato coach Warren Gatland might well take a stroll along Hamilton's main drag this morning thinking all's well with the rugby world.

Keith Robinson, the crocked lock he inherited on his return home from coaching in the Northern Hemisphere last year, had just played a grunty 80 minutes, the rest of his squad outdid Wellington man-for-man in just about all areas and he has a home quarter-final for the next stage of the Air New Zealand Cup.

Last month Gatland said that over the next 12 months to two years he'd have the best team in the country.

Too early for that sort of talk yet but Saturday's five-tries-to-three delamination of Wellington is a sure sign Gatland's on the right path.

Robinson, the six-test All Black, has had a crippling series of injuries and false comebacks that have kept him out of top rugby since 2004.

But he was thrown into the deep end at Waikato Stadium and had to front for 80 minutes after injury put paid to Jono Gibbes in the first half. Robinson bristled with activity, winning lineout ball and putting defensive staunch into the pack.

They had that in spades with blindside flanker Steven Bates and No 8 Sione Lauaki outmuscling Luke Andrews and Jerry Collins.

Waikato's superiority stretched out to the backs with first five-eighths Stephen Donald, second-five David Hill and centre Richard Kahui shading Jimmy Gopperth, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu outwitting Lome Fa'atau in the first half.

And the domination didn't stop as the reserves got shuffled - replacements Liam Messam and halfback Byron Kelleher both scoring tries inside the last 30 minutes to complete the job.

Waikato took a 3-0 lead with a penalty to Hill in the second minute.

Cory Jane, the only Wellington back not outdone by his opposite, replied with a try for his side who then leaked two easy scores to Sivivatu.

An injury to Wellington's Tamati Ellison brought Tana Umaga into the game with almost instant results when he helped Ben Herring to get across in the 29th minute.

Waikato led 20-14 at halftime and then extended their lead three minutes after the break with a brilliant 80m try.

Wellington, with returning All Blacks Collins, Piri Weepu and Neemia Tialata, weren't a patch on the side that squeaked home against Canterbury last week. They now head to Carisbrook to complete their Top Six duties against Otago.

Waikato can seal a top-two spot, and likely home semifinal, by beating North Harbour in Hamilton on Sunday.