Tough-tackling number crunchers

You'd be surprised at the sort of statistics available in rugby these days.

Waikato coach Ian Foster uses one of these new age numbers to sum up the attitude his lock Keith Robinson brings to the game.

According to the boffins, Robinson "hit" 40 per cent more rucks than any other lock in the Super 12 competition this year.

"That shows he is a hugely committed footballer. It also shows we needed to get him focused on some other areas," says Foster.

"I think he's been absolutely outstanding this NPC. He has made enormous strides ... It means he's probably not hitting as many of those rucks as in the Super 12 campaign."

While Robinson has proved himself a tower of strength in the air, one of his semifinal opponents has made his name in the NPC as a ground force.

Hard-running Otago lock Filipo Levi might well be the best front on defender in New Zealand rugby at the moment.

Levi's bone-jarring tackles were a feature of the New Zealand Colts who won the international tournament two years ago.

Already a clutch of those colts, including Aaron Mauger, Richard McCaw and Tom Willis, are All Blacks, and now Levi is touted as test material.

Brad Thorn's rejection of an All Blacks jersey denied John Mitchell the thunderbolt middle rower he wanted last year.

Levi might be the man to fit the bill, although an ankle injury before the NPC robbed him of some conditioning. There are also questions about his aerial skills, which Robinson and co, will test tomorrow night.

His Otago coach Wayne Graham believes the semifinal in Hamilton could be a turning point in the 23-year-old's Levi's career.

"He showed against Canterbury that he can compete with the best and I guess he's got to prove his consistency," says Graham.

"If he has a big one in Hamilton, who knows what lies ahead. He's aware of that."

Levi believes a flirtation with rugby league at Otago Boys High shaped his tackling style.

Levi was born in Huntly - his father was a railway worker who moved the family around the Waikato, then to Auckland. When Levi was nine, his father decided to train as a Presbyterian minister and the family moved to Dunedin.

After failing to crack national age grade rugby teams, Levi gave league a go. One of the lures was the national championships in Ngaruawahia, which gave him the chance to catch up with family in Auckland.

Despite winning a rugby league scholarship, he did not last in the game, but it has left a mark.

"In rugby league you tackle front on and the timing is very important," he says. "If you miss you can look very stupid."

Under Laurie Mains' tough sessions with the Highlanders, Levi's weight dropped to 112kg, but is back to 118kg because the ankle injury cut into his conditioning time. Graham says Levi would struggle fitness-wise at loose forward right now.

"Because of the fitness issue he's probably not quite at his best at the moment."

Fitness is not an issue for the 25-year-old Robinson, although his fellow Waikato locks have been dropping from their considerable heights all season.

The Te Aroha-born Robinson - a hunting-and-fishing kind of character - left Thames Valley for first division experience with Taranaki but in two seasons only started in three matches, although he had regular time off the bench behind starters Andy Slater and Paul Tito. But Robinson has been a mainstay of Waikato's title challenging side.

Foster says: "We've had a traditional combination which I like of a power lock in Royce Willis and then more of an athletic, workaholic, lineout lock in Keith Robinson. He's still learning but he's got a huge future."

One of Foster's concerns is he believes Robinson draws undue attention from referees.

Like Levi, Robinson might still be considered part of the new breed not quite ready for higher honours. Then again, it wouldn't be a surprise to see one or both in a new-look All Blacks squad for the end-of-year tour.