Rugby: Beau hoping to win over Bay fans

Classic Flyers proved the perfect place for the Bay of Plenty Steamers' 2013 ITM Cup launch on Monday night for the side's newest international member.

Queensland Reds openside flanker Beau Robinson, who played his first and only test for the Wallabies against Samoa in 2011, touched down in the Bay just hours before the side was introduced.

Robinson will be living with former Auckland flyer Dave Thomas - another late addition to a squad boasting a fair amount of speed with Kenny Lynn, Highlanders winger Tino Nemani and Melbourne Rebels winger Kimami Sitauti all on the books.

Robinson said former Wallaby Steve Kefu played an important role in establishing the connection.

"He played over here a few seasons ago and sent an email to Mike Rogers on my behalf saying that I was keen to come over and asked whether there was an opportunity. There was, which is great."

Great, too, for the union, which had been advised of a late stumbling block in the loose forwards at the end of last week.

"Beau Robinson is a pretty aggressive footy player and I suppose it's down to luck in a way," said Steamers coach Kevin Schuler.

"Obviously Lats (Tanerau Latimer) is our key man but he's had a big campaign with the Chiefs and is pretty battered and the strong recommendation from the medical crew there was that he needed an extended break.

"That came at pretty late notice and we were just lucky that Beau was available and very motivated to play ITM Cup. It's a great outcome really. He's with us right through and very keen. He'll set a pretty high standard around that collision area. We all know from Super rugby that he is pretty combative, so we hope he'll bring that to the Bay this year."

Schuler said such last minute dealing is inherent to the ITM Cup.

"I think that's the nature of it. We have to be able to cut our cloth to suit. We want to be able to put a competitive side out on the paddock. Super rugby is a brutal competition and we have lost four players out for the season who would have loved to have played for the Bay but can't because they got beaten up during Super.

"You just don't know what you are going to get at the end of the season, whether the Chiefs will play a final or won't play a final. "We just have to understand where we are in the greater scheme of things."