Let’s put on the greatest rugby show in England! – Andy Robinson

Andy Robinson reckons guiding Bristol back to the Premiership would match any of his previous achievements.
As a player and coach, Robinson has been accustomed to scaling the heights with Bath, England and the Lions, winning honours aplenty during an impressive 28-year career.
But, with Bristol launching their new era at Ashton Gate against Worcester today, the 50-year old is relishing the prospect of delivering on his club's undoubted potential.
He told The Rugby Paper: “Everything I've done in the game is in the memory bank and is history, but for me it's all about living for the day, not always looking back at things.
“That's what I look forward to and I thought our last performance in the last ever game at the Memorial Stadium, and the atmosphere that was created, was really special.
“That's the experience I want every time this Bristol team enters the field.
“I want us to have fantastic support here that's full of expectation, but with a team that's prepared to go out there and deliver and really go for it in every game we play.
“If we can put that together, matchday experiences at Ashton Gate could be some of the best in rugby anywhere in the United Kingdom.
“That's what excites me about what we can create here and we're at the foundation stage of building that special experience. Can we compete with the Leicesters and Northamptons one day? They're words, aren't they? There's potential here, but it's about delivering and that's what we're all here to do.
“We didn't deliver last year. We made improvements but didn't achieve what we set out to do, so it's important to keep improving and focusing on the challenge, not shying away.”
Robinson insists last season's play-off failure has been put to bed and with a raft of high-end new signings in the shape of Dwayne Peel, Matthew Morgan, Ian Evans, Jack Lam, David Lemi and Anthony Perenise impressing in pre-season, Bristol aim to hit the ground running.
He said: “What happened is history and you move on. We've had four pre-season games and trained against Bath and the boys seem to be settling in well.
“There's a good squad atmosphere and big competition for places, so guys will be fighting to get into the team. We certainly feel we are ahead of where we were at this stage last year.
“The players we've signed are talented players who've played at the highest level and we're expecting them to deliver performances and raise the level of others around them.
“The team that we select to wear a Bristol shirt has to go out there and win, and win well, and understand how to do that. There will be times when we're under the cosh, but that's when the toughest competitors come out and prove why they're the best.
“We want our guys to make a statement about why they're part of this club every time they go out and the challenge for them is to be selected because of the talent we have here. Each time they go out they are going to be judged and it's vital that they perform.”
Robinson expects today's Ashton Gate visitors Worcester to be his side's biggest challengers.
But he knows nothing can be taken for granted, adding: “You'll always have a surprise package. Look at Rotherham last year and the way they played, so the opportunity is there for all teams to put a run of results together.
“Worcester will be up there. They're the side coming down from the Premiership, they've invested in their squad and are really well coached, so it's right that Worcester and Bristol should be in the play-offs because of their squad depth.
“But you can't just expect it to happen. Leeds are a good side, London Scottish have invested and Rotherham have performed well in pre-season, so it only takes three sides to get momentum and they will put us and Worcester under pressure.
“But what a great opportunity this is for Bristol at Ashton Gate and, for me, when you see the stadium and the pitch, it's inspirational. Rugby's about generating rhythm and momentum and that's what we aim to do.”
NEALE HARVEY
*This article was first published in The Rugby Paper on September 7.