Robinson retains big-match focus

JASON ROBINSON keeps trying to push thoughts of World Cup celebration out of his mind as he prepares to bring one of rugby’s most brilliant careers to a close.

But that iconic moment when he slid in for England’s try in the final four years ago, punched the ball to the skies and roared ‘come on’ keeps coming back to tease him.

Robinson will wear the white shirt with the red rose for the last time in tomorrow night’s final at the Stade de France against South Africa and would love to emulate those magical scenes of 2003.

He said: “If I said I hadn’t thought of it I’d be lying. This week is a mix of emotions, trying to control your thought process. When your mind goes to those sort of things you try to draw it in a bit.

“The more you focus on things like that the less you focus on the job you need to do. This week you have got people coming out of the woodwork wanting tickets, travel arrangements to be made, every man and his dog are texting you.

“It would be easy to get carried away with the whole thing. Briefly I’ve gone there. Having won the last one I know it’s the best feeling you will ever have in rugby, but I also know that losing in a final is the worst time of your career.”

Robinson still uses the desolation he felt after losing the 1995 rugby league World Cup final for Great Britain against Australia as powerful motivation not to go to such a depressing place again.

The born-again Christian revealed he will be praying in the changing rooms before the match.

“Not necessarily to win,” he says. “But to focus, to be able to do my job and to bring it together for one massive push. There is a lot of excitement. I know I’m finishing but having been on the rugby treadmill for the last 16 years I won’t know what it’s like not to be on it until next week. On the night there will be a mix of feelings but we have a job to do.

“What a way to finish in the World Cup final. Sometimes I do have to pinch myself. It’s one thing to play in a final but no-one wants to lose in one. It’s certainly better for me to finish in a World Cup final than in a league game away in winter.”

Robinson’s 16-year career at Wigan and Great Britain, and with Sale and England, has been bedecked with medals, although he admits he has no idea how many he has won.

None of them, however, are displayed at his home. Instead they are stuffed in a bag, the memories far more precious to 33-year-old.

“The main thing is doing a job for England,” he said. “It will be the team that wants it the most. It’s got all the ingredients to be a classic.”

A second World Cup medal in his 541st match of top-class rugby would more than vindicate his cross-code move when Clive Woodward persuaded him to join the England adventure in the year 2000.

It would also endorse his own decision to come out of international retirement for one last hurrah.

He said: “It was right I came back, hopefully I have added something to the team and we can finish this off. I didn’t think we would turn things around as well as we have done but one of the good things about this team is that it won’t accept second-best.”

So how will he while away the hours before Saturday’s 9pm local time kick-off?

“I’m used to playing for Sale at 8pm but at home you can fill your time doing things, go downstairs and have your breakfast and not have to sign autographs on your way down,” he said.

“Here you’re in your room, prowling up and down like a lion and waiting for time to go by. It’s a case of resting and making sure you eat at the right times. I’m a terrible eater on match day. I have to go for the liquid diet, protein shakes.”

nEnglish World Cup referee Tony Spreadbury has announced his retirement from the Test arena.