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Robinson faces Rodzilla

By Adrian Warren 14/07/2010 06:55:13 PM Comments (0)

Wallabies scrum cornerstone Benn Robinson is facing a heavyweight test upon his return to rugby this weekend after a break of more than two months.

Prop Robinson is aiming to prove his fitness for Australia's July 24 Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in Brisbane by making his return from a fractured forearm in a Sydney club game on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Waratahs scrum linchpin expects to come up against massive West Harbour front-rower Rodney Blake, nicknamed Rodzilla.

One of the biggest props in the business, former Reds front-rower Blake has returned to Australia and will play for the fledgling Melbourne Rebels Super franchise next year after spending two seasons with French club Bayonne.

Robinson, who will be turning out for Eastwood, will be conceding around 20 kilos in weight to Blake, who he played alongside in the Australian team in 2006.

"I think I'm playing against Rodney Blake. He's around 135 kilos, so it's going to be a big test for me, coming back to scrummaging," Robinson told reporters on Wednesday.

Neither Robinson nor hooker Stephen Moore, who will also return to action for Eastwood on Saturday after a two-month rest caused by a fractured jaw, have been treated with kid-gloves at training by their Wallaby teammates.

"This week is a real tester for us, he (Moore) has got a few knocks on the jaw already and I've got a fair whack on my arm," Robinson said.

"It's just about getting confidence back in your arm and you achieve that through a few bumps and bruises."

Robinson said his arm felt really good despite it getting "a bit of a bashing".

"The doctors are really happy with the healing, so I'm just looking forward to getting stuck in a bit more," he said.

In-form five-eighth Quade Cooper returned to the team camp on Wednesday after being given leave to attend a family funeral in his country of birth, New Zealand.

Cooper, who won the Australian Super Player of the Year award, is keen to build on the sizzling form that he carried into Australia's four inbound Tests during June.

"I'm happy but, at the same time, you want to keep improving," Cooper said.

"You don't want to get to a certain stage and just stay there, you want to keep moving forward."

Cooper was looking to proving himself in Tri-Nations combat, having never played against New Zealand and only off-the-bench against South Africa.

"It's going to be exciting for me to play against the country where I was born, it will be a big occasion for myself and my family, it's something I'm really looking forward to," Cooper said.

However, Cooper wasn't taking it for granted that he would definitely play in the Tests against the All Blacks in Melbourne on July 31 and Christchurch the following Saturday.

He had no doubt he would be targeted by the big Springbok back-row in Brisbane on Saturday week.

"I'm sure they will. It happened all through the Super 14, so I can't see it changing," Cooper said.

"The whole team has got to come together and be physical with their pack and really muscle-up."

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