Robbie Robinson signs with the Chiefs

[TRF Mr Fish]

Heard it on Newstalk ZB this morning.

What an awful signing - what is Rennie thinking? Robinson is an absolutely incompetent player who barely looks up to ITM Cup standard a lot of the time.

He must have been signed as a fullback/first five option, as opposed to a specialist in either position. The Chiefs always have great outside backs, and Renata is surely a better first five prospect, so I'm not too sure what's going on here.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Must be as reserve cover for Nanai Williams and Cruden. Disagree on Renata though, don't rate him at all. Robinson is much better

 

[Darwin]

Interesting signing by the Chiefs. As the Highlanders supporter I'm certainly not disappointed to see him go - while he does seem to have all the skills, he really struggles when he is put under even the slightest pressure. He does have a lot of potential - he has a huge punt, and is exceptional acceleration, but his defence is very poor. I think he best suited to fullback at this stage of his career, as he struggles to control a game at first-five. It will be interesting to see how he goes with the Chiefs.

 

[Ma'a Nonu Junior]

Huge loss for the highlanders. Robinson has his fair share of critics but hacing a player who can cover multiple posistions and posseses extreme talent cannot be underestimated for all we know he may have a huge year in a different enviroment

 

[Ma'a Nonu Junior]

having*

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Well he can only cover two positions, first five and fullback, and it isn't unusual to see players who can do this - more importantly though he's not particularly good at either of them. He just seems to completely lack basic ball skills at times. I'd love for him to prove me wrong.

And that rat's tail, yuck. Should be banned.

 

[Darwin]

Huge loss for the highlanders. Robinson has his fair share of critics but hacing a player who can cover multiple posistions and posseses extreme talent cannot be underestimated for all we know he may have a huge year in a different enviroment

I really don't think he is a big loss for the Highlanders at all - he is certainly not a starting player, and even struggled to make it onto the bench this season. When he got on the field he did nothing but disappoint. I'm not at all worried that he is going.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I really don't think he is a big loss for the Highlanders at all - he is certainly not a starting player, and even struggled to make it onto the bench this season. When he got on the field he did nothing but disappoint. I'm not at all worried that he is going.

In contrast, I'm very upset he's coming.

(Yes yes, that's what she said etc.)

 

[cyRil]

Gutting He is crap. And has a stupid name.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

As a Southlander, I'm not particularly concerned with his leaving. He'll save us a reasonable amount of money, because he was an extremely talented New Zealand age-grade rep he had a lot of potential and was probably one of our better paid players.

That talent never materialised into anything of great significance for Southland or the Highlanders and I can only hope that he may learn something that might turn him around in a new environment. That is except for when he plays against either Southland or the Highlanders that is.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

As a Southlander, I'm not particularly concerned with his leaving. He'll save us a reasonable amount of money, because he was an extremely talented New Zealand age-grade rep he had a lot of potential and was probably one of our better paid players.

That talent never materialised into anything of great significance for Southland or the Highlanders and I can only hope that he may learn something that might turn him around in a new environment. That is except for when he plays against either Southland or the Highlanders that is.

Well he'll stick with Southland, just not the Highlanders...

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

Well he'll stick with Southland, just not the Highlanders...

We've had a few guys leave the Super 15 teams and say they'll stay with Southland and then not do so, but then again a few have stayed with us, so maybe either way is a possibility.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

We've had a few guys leave the Super 15 teams and say they'll stay with Southland and then not do so, but then again a few have stayed with us, so maybe either way is a possibility.

This is true, they usually stay with their home province for another season or two though, then make a move. So you get him for a couple for seasons still

 

[Ma'a Nonu Junior]

Yes he has dissapointed but the guy could still come good. The NZ maori series last year was a great example of how good he can be. I'd rather see him in there than the player that will likely replace him - James Wilson

 

[Larksea]

I think he's a very good player, I dont really understand people who are saying he hasn't delivered on his potential and similar comments. The reality is the kid is only 21 years old and their aren't many his age who have done better at super rugby, not in NZ anyway.

That Said. Call me old fashioned but I dont like seeing the chiefs recruit all these players from outside catchment. For me win or lose one of the good things about the chiefs is that the majority of the players are from the Chiefs area. More than say the Crusaders who only have a handful of guys who aren't imports.

Already seen the likes of Donald and Aled get the boot, guys who have worked their arses off for the chiefs and at least 3 outsiders come in.

Renee is the first chiefs coach from outside the area so I guess things were always going to change. But still it's kinda a shame.

What interested me about the chiefs is that I bet Donald and Mega got the boot from the chiefs the same way Hore and Nonu did from the Canes. I know some of the blame goes on Hammett for the **** storm that was created but some respect should go to Donald & Mega for taking it on the chin and getting on with things without kicking up a fuss. Aled was fighting back tears after his last game for waikato yesterday, he has a huge amount of respect from his fellow players and It just looks like he would rather stay.

 

[Amobokoboko]

He's not that bad when playing for Southland.

 

[ranger]

Hes not that bad.
Its obvious that the worst part of his game thus far is keeping a cool head, he feels the pressure and lets his nerves get to him but hes barely 21, its not like that will never be improved! Especially with two of the best back coaches in the buisness holding his hand in Rennie and Smith.
He has bucketloads of potential and of all the young backs in New Zealand he seems like the guy who is most suited to Smiths tutelage.

I also think that Southland and the Highlanders have been a poor fit for him. He showed a talent early on for choosing the right moment to pick a gap, and making clever decisions based on what the defense gave him. This was lost at the Highlanders and Stags as they have been pretty blunt in their backline attack, Robinson was seen as one of their prime attacking weapons (at least early on) and this coupled with the nerves saw him force things and lose his timing a bit too much, which then lead to a drop in confidence and an allround drop in performance.

At the Cheifs i dont expect him (fingers crossed) to have the same problems. I'm picking that he has been chosen as outside back cover first and foremost, and in that scenario he is looking at being subbed into the following backline:

9)Leonard/Kerr-Barlow
10)Cruden
11)Masaga
12)SBW
13)Kahui
14)Tuala/Nanai-Williams
15)Robinson

In that situation, the pressure is well of him. He will have no expectations on him at all to spark the offense himself, leaving him to read the game and pick his opportunities if (and when, looking at that backline) the defense plays off him.
In that lineup he provides the long raking punt that Cruden lacks, he runs clever support lines to go with ridiculous acceleration that would make him a great option off SBWs shoulder, and he can eventually bring a calming influence to the back (a handy change of pace to Nanai-Williams if things are losing their shape). It is possible to have too much x factor and it looks like the Cheifs are riding that fine line.

I dont think he will ever be the centrepiece of a top team, but right now he could be a valuable role player for the Chiefs. In time i can see him developing into a poor mans Ben Smith, which is still pretty handy.

 

[Darwin]

Hes not that bad.
Its obvious that the worst part of his game thus far is keeping a cool head, he feels the pressure and lets his nerves get to him but hes barely 21, its not like that will never be improved! Especially with two of the best back coaches in the buisness holding his hand in Rennie and Smith.
He has bucketloads of potential and of all the young backs in New Zealand he seems like the guy who is most suited to Smiths tutelage.

I also think that Southland and the Highlanders have been a poor fit for him. He showed a talent early on for choosing the right moment to pick a gap, and making clever decisions based on what the defense gave him. This was lost at the Highlanders and Stags as they have been pretty blunt in their backline attack, Robinson was seen as one of their prime attacking weapons (at least early on) and this coupled with the nerves saw him force things and lose his timing a bit too much, which then lead to a drop in confidence and an allround drop in performance.

At the Cheifs i dont expect him (fingers crossed) to have the same problems. I'm picking that he has been chosen as outside back cover first and foremost, and in that scenario he is looking at being subbed into the following backline:

9)Leonard/Kerr-Barlow
10)Cruden
11)Masaga
12)SBW
13)Kahui
14)Tuala/Nanai-Williams
15)Robinson

In that situation, the pressure is well of him. He will have no expectations on him at all to spark the offense himself, leaving him to read the game and pick his opportunities if (and when, looking at that backline) the defense plays off him.
In that lineup he provides the long raking punt that Cruden lacks, he runs clever support lines to go with ridiculous acceleration that would make him a great option off SBWs shoulder, and he can eventually bring a calming influence to the back (a handy change of pace to Nanai-Williams if things are losing their shape). It is possible to have too much x factor and it looks like the Cheifs are riding that fine line.

I dont think he will ever be the centrepiece of a top team, but right now he could be a valuable role player for the Chiefs. In time i can see him developing into a poor mans Ben Smith, which is still pretty handy.

Really well said. There is no doubt that he has the potential to be a good Super Rugby player, but he does have some glaring weaknesses. The issue is that he hasn't improved these weak areas of his game in his time with Southland / the Highlanders - indeed teams have discovered these weakness, and know how to exploit them. A new environment with new coaches could be exactly the thing he needs to reach his potential. I actually expect that he will turn into a handy player for the Chiefs, but I don't necessarily think he would turn into that player if he stuck with the Highlanders.

I agree he needs to concentrate on fullback, as he is currently doing with Southland. His huge punt and counter-attacking ability is a big asset from fullback, but his defense at the back can be a bit of a liability. A back three of Masaga / Nanai-Williams / Robinson would certainly have plenty of attacking potential, but would struggle a lot defensively.

 

[Larksea]

Masanga's defence is good in the line and he's very commited under the high ball. Though Robbie and Nanai aren't as good on defence in the tackle or positioning - though they aren't shy of the tackle I think their issues are more to do with experience and positioning.

And without actually looking at their stats I'd say they are lacking height for a back 3 combination. I'd like to see Tim mikkelson involved, he's very tall and has great skills. Looked pretty good at 15 in this ITM cup as well

The Idea of Sonny Bill and Kahui pairing in mid field sounds pretty darn awesome though.

9)Leonard/Kerr-Barlow
10)Cruden
11)Masaga
12)SBW
13)Kahui
14)Tuala/Nanai-Williams
15)Robinson

Honestly without Mills, Donald and Sivivatu this backline overall to me looks weaker that this years top backline, the main problem in the backs this year was that Donald, Mills and Tana all spent a lot of time injured. Sweeney was mud as a replaceemnt for Tana and Delaney though good against the sharks in one game was below average the rest of the time.

One thing the chiefs have really lacked for a number of years now is a top shelf 12 to pair with Kahui. Kahui was hamstrung outside Bruce in 2010 and starved of quality ball outside Sweeney in 2011. If paired with Sonny Bill we may finally get to see how good kahui can be - the class player we see on attack for the AB's. Was such a huge shame tana spent most of this season injured.

I think Foster got his selections at 12 totally wrong this year.

Main Goal for the chiefs needs to be the tight 5, they will Miss Aled - though his lineout throwing wasn't 100% there aren't many hookers in the world as strong as him in contact around the ruck. The Big Key is going to be the locks, Craig Clarke has been good but not spectacular. Chiefs need a really Classy lock.

This is also an area where Foster screwed up with selections. Chiefs locks made some progress in 2010 but went backwards in 2011.

Chiefs have huge riches in the looseforwards with Messam as the cornerstone.
Bourke
Same Cane
Waldrum
Latimer

plus the likes of Matt Van Leven who's had a strong ITM cup, and maybe even Marty Holah.

 

[nickdnz]

I've always been a bit of a fan of Robbie Robinson. When he came onto the scene in JRWC in Japan, he was in my opinion the best player of the tornement (above Aaron Cruden). He certainly is a better fit at fullback though. You can appreciate that if there is one coach who can get the best out of him it'll be Dave Rennie, considering he showed his most potential with him. I still thinkl he could become a very good rugby player. Physically he's got all the attributes, he just needs to not be put in such an important role for a good couple of years.