Rugby: Robinson makes early return to Reds

Beau Robinson will return one week earlier than planned in time for the semifinal with the Blues. Photo / Getty Image

As a part-time bartender Beau Robinson dealt with patrons irritated by delays between drinks.

Fortunately, as a professional rugby player, another frustrating wait has not had repercussions for the Queensland Reds loose forward.

When his elbow was dislocated by a Crusaders opponent on May 29 there were fears Robinson would be unavailable until the Super 15 final on July 9.

However, Robinson, one of the form openside flankers of the competition, will return one week earlier than planned against the Blues in the first semifinal at Brisbane on Saturday night.

He has been a revelation alongside Reds blindside flanker Scott Higginbotham and No 8 Radike Samo, providing proof there is life after Daniel Braid, the All Black signed as the Reds marquee player in 2009.

Robinson had hoped to secure the job of replacing Reds stalwart David Croft but Reds coach Phil Mooney lured Braid across the Tasman for a two-season stint before he returned to Auckland.

Instead Robinson, who was released by the Waratahs after their 2009 campaign, played in Italy until a family bereavement brought him home.

He resumed his sports management studies and begged Reds head coach Ewen McKenzie to at least allow him to train with the squad.

McKenzie agreed and since round three Robinson has been a fixture in the starting XV after seeing off rivals for the No 7 jersey in Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, Ed Quirk, Ben Coridas and Lei Tomiki.

Schatz, Gill and Coridas had turns filling in while Robinson was in rehab but McKenzie brought his linkman back as soon as possible.

"It could have been worse," Robinson said. "It was only four weeks. Other blokes have had elbow injuries and been out for months."

Robinson played half a game of club rugby last weekend and was confident that would be sufficient preparation before taking on not one, but two, Braid brothers in the sudden-death match.

"We'll see what happens; everything feels good," he said.

Robinson said facing Daniel Braid for the first time since he left the Reds would not faze him; he had no qualms about being overlooked by the Queensland hierarchy two years ago.

"I wasn't in the picture then so it's not really an issue.

"He's a quality player and so is his brother [Luke]. You expect that in Super rugby."

The Blues side will be named today with Luke Braid expected to start at openside while his older brother, who returned from a serious neck injury against the Waratahs last Friday, will be on the reserves bench.

Regardless of whether the Reds can add to the Super 10 titles they won in the pre-Sanzar era in 1994-95, this season represents a breakthrough for Robinson.

He used to do shifts at the Irish Heart pub in Goodna but now he has a full-time contract worth A$60,000 ($78,000) and yesterday revealed the contract had been extended for another two years.

"It's good to just have the focus on football again. I'm pretty fortunate," he said.

"This year was pretty much it for me, it was dire straits so when Link [McKenzie] let me train I tried to remain positive and give it all I've got."

Meanwhile, although his elbow was fine he wouldn't have that arm twisted over his prospects of making the Wallabies' World Cup squad as a back-up to David Pocock.

Robinson's lack of versatility may count against him but there is no denying his effectiveness this campaign against the leaders in his position such as Pocock, Richie McCaw and Schalk Burger.


- NZPA