Robinson said, “Obviously I left nine months ago and didn’t think I’d be coming back so soon. I knew there would be a possibility of facing each other as we did earlier in the season and coming back to Cardiff is a bit more of a special thing.”
“So I’m looking forward to seeing and playing at the new stadium and playing against a lot of old friends. I don’t think we can read too much into the game at Kingsholm in November.”
“We were going through quite a bad patch, and the Blues really added to that. Ceri [Sweeney] converted a last minute kick, to win a game that we should have sewn up. Obviously I was disappointed to go off injured and to have lost the game.”
“It’s funny how the group turned out and the Blues did Gloucester a favour by winning up at the Scarlets and gave us the route through to the semi.”
Speaking of his time at Gloucester Robinson added, “I’m enjoying the experience of living somewhere else and playing in a different environment with new team mates and coaches, and that is the kind of challenge I was looking for.”
“It was a difficult start of the year, and as in Cardiff, Gloucester is a big rugby town who want success. Since the turn of the year things have improved and hopefully we can carry that on.”
“I’m sure Paul (Tito) meant it in the sincerest of ways when he said I’d get a warm welcome and I look forward to playing against him. I enjoyed my time here with Paul and he’s been up to stay with me in Gloucester so I hope he remembers that if I am at the bottom of a ruck.”
Sweeney who will be facing his old rival said, “Last yera’s final was probably one of our best performances last year I think everything clicked on the day. We started really well and went on to win by 50 points which was great and we really enjoyed that weekend up in London.”
“I came on with 10 minutes left at the end and put the ball up in the air, it bounced into my lap, and I was lucky enough to run in for a try. I think it was more luck than judgement.”
Going head to head with his former Blues team mate is a prospect Sweeney is looking forward to.
“I’ve enjoyed a good rivalry with Nicky Robinson and have played against him quite a lot over the years,” he said.
“I played against him earlier in the season, when we beat them, but unfortunately he had to go off injured, so I think he’ll be coming back to him hometown club and make an impression. I’m sure he’ll have a point to prove after we’ve beaten them away, I’m sure he’ll want to have a good game.”
