It has taken three-and-a-half years for Robinson to reach the milestone after his debut against Sale in 2003, since when he has been a virtual ever-present in the Saints’ starting line-up. In that first season he was nominated for both the PRA Players’ Player of the Year and the Zurich Overseas Player of the Year.
“It’s a special thing to play 100 games for this club,” says Robinson. “We don’t often get a chance to play 100 games for one club back in New Zealand because of the structure of the competition. So I’m happy, excited and chuffed as well.
“It has been a difficult season, albeit with great wins at Welford Road and last weekend as well. But if we concentrate and get some good results over the next few weeks we’ll be looking back at the last month of the season rather than the preceding five months.
“But I’m not looking at the past. I’m very much looking ahead and keeping positive and that goes for the team as well.
“One of the challenges for us this week is to maintain some consistency and keep up the high level of play. Kingston Park is a difficult place to go and Newcastle have a talented backline full of internationals. So it’s a one-off game for us and we have to concentrate on that.”
Robinson’s strike rate is an impressive 22 tries in his 99 matches to date. However 11 of those have come this season and he is well-set to be the Saints’ top try scorer.
“I think it’s just because I’ve changed my focus to try and make things happen a bit more,” he says. “In every game there’s a try to be scored and it’s just a matter of being in the right place and being on your game as well. If you’re on your game you’ll manage to pick something up, whether it be create the try or score it yourself. Through the season I feel I’ve been confident enough to put myself in those positions.”
Robinson takes his place in an unchanged backline from the team that started in San Sebastian after Sean Lamont was passed fit to play earlier in the week.
There are three changes in the pack. Chris Budgen replaces John Brooks, who drops to the bench. And injury has ruled out Matt Lord and Ben Lewitt and they are replaced by David Gerard and Darren Fox respectively.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO FACE NEWCASTLE (intls in CAPS)
Guinness Premiership Round 20, Kingston Park, Sunday, April 8th 2007
15 Paul Diggin
14 SEAN LAMONT
13 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)
12 Robbie Kydd
11 BEN COHEN
10 CARLOS SPENCER
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 Dylan Hartley
3 Chris Budgen
4 DAVID GERARD
5 Christian Short
6 PAUL TUPAI
7 Darren Fox
8 CHRISTIAN LABIT
Replacements
16 MATIAS CORTESE
17 John Brooks
18 Damien Browne
19 Mark Hopley
20 Johnny Howard
21 Stephen Myler
22 Vaughan Going
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