JASON ROBINSON knew more about the Lions in the wild than the ones on the pitch when he was first picked to wear the famous red jersey.
He made just three sub appearances for England before packing his bags to face the Wallabies in 2001.
Pocket-rocket Robinson, nicknamed “Billy Whizz”, had yet to start a Test match for his country in a whirlwind six months since switching from rugby league.
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There is little chance of any of Warren Gatland’s rookies scoring FIVE tries on their debut this summer like Robinson did.
So if one man knows how to make an impact as a Lions tourist in the southern hemisphere it is him — and he reckons stopping playmaker Beauden Barrett is the key to conquering the fearsome All Blacks.
New SunSport columnist Robbo said: “I hardly knew a thing about the Lions before being picked for the first time.
“I had just played 60 games, as I switched from league to union, but I found this energy because of everything that was going on.
“Welsh, Scots and Irish fans were all cheering for me in Australia. I was like, ‘Hang on a minute, this is odd’.”
Robinson, 42, joined the pride in Australia — a country where he went on to score England’s only try in the final as they won the World Cup two years later.
Fast forward another two years to 2005 and Robinson was in New Zealand with the Lions. Everyone knew who he was by then.
The 2003 World Cup hero said: “It is the most intense place I have ever been to play.
“I love rugby — but not as much as the Kiwis. It’s so full-on and intense. In the hotel, the cleaners knew about rugby, the reception staff, the taxi drivers, the waiters.
“So for tourists facing them in their own back yard, it can be ultra-intense.
“As soon as you get into the tour the games come thick and fast. There is the physical drain and the mental drain from all the travelling and moving around.
“This time the Lions have 25 debutants in the 41-man squad.
“But when they get there, they will know what it’s all about — and the All Blacks will be waiting and licking their lips.
“For us up here in the northern hemisphere, you get the chance to go on three, maybe four Lions tours at most. For the opposition, it’s once every 12 years — it’s everyone’s big game.”
The All Blacks have won the last two World Cups to confirm their global domination.
The only time the Lions won a series there, in 1971, Robinson was not even born.
And the last time the Kiwis lost at their Eden Park fortress in Auckland was 1994.
Robbo is in no doubt that the only way to change such statistics is to stop Barrett.
He said: “The Lions must go for the heart of the All Blacks — and target Barrett.
“When they have such a special and talented playmaker like New Zealand do in the No 10 shirt, then you have to put hits on them early doors.
“The Lions will be sending guys in at him all the time, as he’s one of the key players in Steve Hansen’s juggernaut.
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“If you can stop him, then you can stop a lot of what the All Blacks try to do.
“Barrett is world class and has huge boots to fill after Dan Carter. If there is a flaw, it’s his kicking percentage rate.
“If you can take out one of the main threats like Barrett and rough them up, then you’ve got to do it. For them it’s not the norm, so they don’t like it.
“The flip side of that is the Lions will also have plenty of traffic down the throats of Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton.”
The first match is against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on Saturday in Whangarei.
Then, talk of that blockbuster First Test against the All Blacks on June 24 at Eden Park — and which players might be in or out — will gather pace.
Robinson added: “If you don’t support the boys when you’re not selected for a Test, the Lions won’t work.
“If you go on tour and don’t make a Test side — but the team win — you are still a successful Lion.
“I didn’t do well at school but 41 never goes into 23, so you have to use that anger if you’re one of those on the sidelines.
“If not, you’ll end up with pockets of different groups — and it’s not about the English, Irish, Scots and Welsh being on their own and slagging off the coach.
“You go against everything the Lions stand for if you do that.
“You have enough against you without it turning sour within.
“I remember winning in New Zealand with England in 2003 and this guy, just some Joe Bloggs, was saying we had no chance in the hotel lift. It was so arrogant — ridiculous.
“The Lions will face enough of that, so they need to be together in the camp.”
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