Robinson hasn't featured for the Wallabies since the Lions series. Source: AAP
SOMETIMES it takes a guy in shirt, tie and underpants, hopping around a carpark, to re-kindle an old flame.
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Where Benn Robinson had grown used to planning, precision and professionalism around training with NSW and Australia, it was the slightly rougher edges of club footy that reminded him why he loved rugby.
The edges that see players fill their own water bottles and do the age-old, half-dressed carpark dance, getting changed into boots after a day at the office.
"Training is sometimes starts a little bit late or whatever because boys are still getting in from work," Robinson says.
"It's great. For me, being back at the Woodies, it has really brought me back to what rugby is all about. They play because they love the game. You can't lose sight of that."
Loving rugby wasn't the easiest thing for Robinson to do four weeks ago.
After starting in all three British and Lions Tests, Robinson was the highest-profile victim of new Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie just weeks later when dumped for The Rugby Championship.
It was a swing of the axe few saw coming, including the 28-year-old, who only recently signed a new three-year deal with the ARU.
Robinson is happy to admit he was "emotional" after swallowing the bitter pill and passing the news on to his partner Trish, and his family.
"As a rugby player you have plenty of ups and downs, and it was a big down for me, no question," Robinson says.
"To find out I wasn't seen as good enough for the Wallabies cut me really, really deep. I love playing for Australia.
"You start to question yourself. You start thinking about "what have I done wrong? What can I do better?"."
Though regarded as one of the better loosehead scrummagers in the world, the old chestnut of Robinson's workrate — or lack of it — was pointed to by McKenzie.
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It's a criticism Robinson is now familiar with. Perceptions of laziness have lingered over his career, and while old-school props like McKenzie once had the blessing of a baggy jersey, the modern skin-tight version is no friend of the mesomorph. Least of all one called "Fat Cat".
It's a superficial, book-cover judgment of Robinson, though, and stats from the Lions series show McKenzie's workrate reasoning holds its ground as poorly as a prop with a six-pack.
In each of the three Tests, Robinson averaged the most runs all Australian props (6 per game), the most run metres (19.3), double the tackles as his Aussie prop peers (8.7 a game) and almost a third more minutes game than them as well.
"I have never seen myself as a pure scrummaging prop. I feel like personally that's not what my game is about," Robinson says.
"I think I showed in the Lions games I am capable of carrying the ball and making breaks. Making my tackles. I feel like I am fairly adaptable. I don't think I am one-dimensional.
"If people just start seeing me that way, they're missing a lot of my game.
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"Some coaches in years gone past have just wanted hard scrummagers, and others have wanted people who could carry, pass and do the lot. I reckon I am fairly adaptable in that sense"
Manly's Jordy Reid will testify to Robinson's loose-play impact. The rookie flanker almost had to exchange details by Robinson after twice being dented by him in a big Shute-Shield semi-final win by Eastwood last weekend.
Robinson's primary asset remains his scrummaging, though, and the Wallabies' struggles against New Zealand and South Africa at set-piece has many calling for his urgent Test recall.
The stocky prop — who was last week voted NSW's forward of the year — doesn't hide from the fact he'd love to get one.
Though still playing under the old scrum laws at club level, Robinson believes his technique a smaller, counter-punching prop would be suited to changes to the Test scrum sequence.
"I have always prided myself on post-engagement work, so I think the changes would be advantageous for me. You need to have a very strong body shape in the scrum," he says.
Robinson has been studying and training the new scrum with Waratahs teammate Paddy Ryan, who ironically will be his opposing prop for Sydney Uni in Saturday's Shute Shield Grand Final.
Uni are so overflowing with rep stars they even have four reserves with Super Rugby contracts. The Woodies have just one: Robinson.
His experience has helped the minor premiers march on to the grand final, but Robinson feels like he's the one who's been lifted by his Eastwood mates in the past month.
"It's the unique thing about playing at Eastwood. It's a very strong environment, a winning environment," Robinson says.
"It's special for me to be involved in, to be honest. I have been a professional rugby player for nine years or something, but to go back to the Woodies and be playing with all these blokes … I am coming to training with a big smile on my face.
"I love working hard at training and running out on Saturday to do battle with my club mates. Love it."
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