Robinson is a no-show for the Chiefs but they roll over the toothless Sharks

The most eagerly awaited comeback in New Zealand rugby took an 11th-hour U-turn yesterday as Chiefs lock Keith Robinson failed to show for their bottom-of-the-table clash with the Sharks.

The 116kg lock has suffered a succession of serious injuries, from his calf to a disc in his back, since his emphatic form for the All Blacks at the beginning of last season. Yesterday was meant to be his biggest step back on the treadmill after just 40 minutes of club rugby for his Morrinsville Sports side.

However while doing warm-ups on the training ground, Robinson twisted his troubled back and was forced to withdraw.

"It was part of a cunning plan to fool ourselves," said Chiefs coach Ian Foster, attempting to make light of what must be the utmost in frustration.

"During lineouts at 1.30pm, he strained his back so we pulled him out."

At this early stage Foster could give no indication as to whether it was an aggravation of the disc injury that has caused Robinson so much trouble, or to the severity of the injury.

"He doesn't strike me as being bad," he said, "but I can't really tell you any more because we sent him home to lie flat on his back and we'll assess him tomorrow [today]."

On the field the Sharks were hit by what appears to be a serious injury to talented halfback Ruan Pienaar.

The Sharks management could not offer anything other than Pienaar, who lay prone on the ground for at least five minutes during the halftime break while he was attended to by medicos, had been taken to Waikato hospital. They were not revealing whether the blow was to Pienaar's neck or his head.

Oh, and the Chiefs won at waterlogged Hamilton. Quite convincingly, despite a penalty count weighted heavily against them.

The team that had managed a paltry 65 points in its first five matches turned on four converted tries with half an hour gone. That secured the Chiefs' first bonus point of 2005.

For a fleeting moment the Chiefs had reached the lofty heights of seventh on the Super 12 table, aided in no small part by a woeful Sharks team, none of whom rate more than a passing mention.

Any late-arriving spectators would have missed one of the tries of the season. Straight from kick-off the Chiefs spread it wide, Sione Lauaki bumped off a would-be tackler, before centre Niva Taauso put Sitiveni Sivivatu in at the corner.

The opening was a telling period of the game for three reasons: Foster had clearly uncovered a dangerous combination of pace and power out wide; Taauso was playing his first game at this level after coming up from second division Counties-Manukau; and the Chiefs then defended stoutly on their line for the next five minutes without conceding.

"It was important for our mental psyche," captain Steven Bates said. "To get away without them scoring then go down the other end and put it on them was mentally satisfying."

Sivivatu benefited from Taauso's largesse again before the break, while Aleki Lutui and Lauaki also crossed.

In the second half Sosene Anesi scored, as the Sharks reached for the wooden spoon.

"The Chiefs shouldn't be where they are on the table," Sharks coach Dick Muir said. Shame he couldn't say that about his own team.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY