Robinson signals attacking outlook
The back-five forward is available for selection after serving his suspension following a red card on the final day of last season, and is expecting both sides to approach the game with a positive mind-set.
“Quins have got a very established style which they’ve shown over the past few years,” said the 31-year-old, who has scored 13 tries in his 126 games for the club.
“They look to play attacking rugby with a very expansive game, and whenever we’ve played them recently it’s been a very high-tempo affair with lots of open-field play.
“I think Saturday will be the same because both sides are going to want to push the pace, looking to get their hands on the ball and playing some good attacking rugby.”
Robinson’s Falcons are under the tutelage of head coach Dave Walder who is now in overall charge of first-team affairs, with Mark Laycock leading on the team’s attack.
“We’re looking to play with the ball a bit more this season,” said Robinson, the Worcester-born forward who came to the Falcons via the Durham University route.
“That still means playing sensible rugby and being in the right areas of the field, but it’s just a slightly more aggressive and attacking mind-set with ball in hand.
“We’ve also got some defensive stuff we’ve been working on which we’ll look to implement, and what better way to test it than against one of the best attacking sides in Europe?”
Suspension has meant Robinson missing Newcastle’s pair of pre-season friendlies – a 42-28 loss at champions Leicester Tigers and then last week’s 33-29 victory at Doncaster Knights.
“It has changed the pace of my pre-season a little bit, knowing that my first game couldn’t be until this weekend at the earliest,” he explained.
“It has allowed me to spend a bit of extra time in the gym, especially during the early weeks, which has been good.
“I’ve had the opportunity to get my body properly right, get all my niggles sorted and I’m probably feeling fresher going into this weekend, if I’m honest.
“Of course if I’m selected it could be a big test for the lungs with having not played in either of the friendlies, but I’m feeling good.”
Hopeful that a strong Kingston Park attendance can help raise the roof for the Falcons’ opener, Robinson said: “It’s the first game of the season, and if we could have a good home crowd then there’s nothing better as a player to run out to.
“A big home atmosphere gives you that extra bit of energy when you need it, and hopefully we can reward our supporters with some good attacking rugby and a positive result.”
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