Highlanders bank on 'The Kid'

BY NATHAN BURDON

Robbie "The Kid" Robinson will be treating his Super 14 starting debut against the Sharks at Carisbrook tomorrow night like any other game.

The 20-year-old has been named in the No10 jersey for the struggling Highlanders as they chase a first win at home this season.

Robinson has already seen action this season off the bench, including the quarter of an hour he got against the Bulls in Pretoria last week, but will be in the run-on team for the first time.

"I've been trying and trying and finally get a chance," he told The Southland Times.Robinson said those 15 minutes against the Bulls, including a try, were important in terms of his season.

"I would have liked more (game time), (but) like I said to myself at the start of the season – I knew it was going to be hard for me to get an opportunity but (any) oppportunity I did get I was going to have to make the most of it."

Coach Glenn Moore hopes Robinson will provide the Highlanders with an extra attacking edge. "His confidence has gone up. We thought last week he had a real impact when he came on.

"He does offer us a point of difference and the Sharks have had a pretty good defence. He provides us with something different to what we've shown."

Moore will be advising his young charge to keep calm during his run-on debut.

"It's about playing with the same confidence he's shown coming off the bench and the same confidence he's shown through the Air New Zealand Cup in pressured situations. The good thing is he's got some experienced guys around him."

Michael Hobbs and Adam Thomson return to the starting lineup after having to sit out the Bulls game because they broke team curfew in Cape Town.

Thomson has been re-installed at No8, while Hobbs has been moved to his preferred position at second five-eighth to accommodate Robinson.

Among the nine changes made by Moore, captain Jimmy Cowan returns to the team after missing a week with a dislocated finger, Jason Rutledge and Clint Newland replace Jason Macdonald and Chris King, respectively, in the front row and Hayden Triggs comes in at lock for Tom Donnelly, who has an ankle injury.

Donnelly could have played against the Sharks tomorrow, but would be better for a week off, Moore said.

Southland wing James Paterson, who has been impressive off the bench, regains the left wing spot he lost to Fetu'u Vainikolo in South Africa.

Tim Boys has been bracketed with Stephen Setephano on the bench, where Joe Tuineau has been named for the first time.

Robinson's parents are likely to be in the stands, but his extended family have a "do" planned for down home this weekend.

"I don't know what's going to go on there. They might have to put a big screen up."

With the Highlanders arriving in Dunedin only on Tuesday there have been limited opportunities for Robinson to build a combination with Cowan and Hobbs.

Robinson is keen to also take on the goalkicking duties if first-choice kicker Israel Dagg, who is being troubled by a knee injury, can't do it.

In other injury news, Nasi Manu will be out for at least one more week with a knee injury.

HIGHLANDERS

Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Kenny Lynn, Michael Hobbs, James Paterson, Robbie Robinson, Jimmy Cowan (captain), Adam Thomson, Alando Soakai, John Hardie, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bekhuis, Clint Newland, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh. Reserves: Jason Macdonald, Chris King, Joe Tuineau, Tim Boys/Steven Setephano, Sean Romans, Jayden Hayward, Fetu'u Vainikolo.

- © Fairfax NZ News