Super Rugby rookie Tom Banks is bracing for an attacking onslaught from the Auckland Blues as the ACT Brumbies fullback prepares to play his first game against a New Zealand opponent.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But the nippy 22-year-old says he won't be shackled by expectation or pressure when he replaces Aidan Toua in the Brumbies' No. 15 jersey on Sunday.
Banks has been promoted to the Brumbies' starting XV in his preferred position for what looms as a must-win clash after back to back losses.
Banks' chances comes at the expense of Toua, who has been shifted to the bench for the first time in his Brumbies career after 26 consecutive games at fullback.
Trying to stop the unpredictable Blues is a massive challenge for Banks, who will be playing just his fifth Super Rugby game.
"But I'm feeling pretty good ... it will be good to have a bit more space and opportunity at the back," Banks said.
"I'm looking forward to that chance to roam a little bit more. We like a structured game [at the Brumbies] but [coach Stephen Larkham] has told us that when there's a chance, he wants to see what we can do.
"Coming in to replace someone like Aidan does come with a bit of pressure, but for me it's just about roaming and playing with that freedom.
"This will be my first game against a New Zealand side, it is a different challenge because they've got such an attacking mindset. But the biggest thing is to avoid getting sucked into what they do."
The Brumbies have lost their past two games and another defeat would signal an alarming mid-season slump.
They have shown glimpses in recent weeks of some attacking brilliance, highlighted by a 10-pass length of the field try against the Wellington Hurricanes last weekend.
But the highlights reel was overshadowed by a second-half flop against the Hurricanes, with the Australian conference race for a guaranteed finals berth being blown wide open.
Banks, who made his Super Rugby debut for the Queensland Reds in 2015, is still searching for the first try of his professional career.
"Obviously I want to be a starting player every week, that's the main goal of everyone and it's the reason of why I came to the Brumbies," Banks said.
"We've had a good week of training and we worked on some things that we lacked in the game last week.
"It's about not having lapses in game play, dropping off and letting the Kiwi teams build phases. We need to go for 80 minutes because they punish any small error.
"We've got to weather the storm, stick to what we know and then hopefully go on our own attack."
Meanwhile, the wife of Wallabies giant Will Skelton, Kate, is set to play for the Sydney women's side against an ACT XV in the curtain-raiser at Canberra Stadium.
The Sydney side will roll out an imposing roster, including Skelton and Wallaroos captain Ash Hewson, while the ACT team will be led by Australian veteran Lousie Burrows.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 10
Sunday: ACT Brumbies v Auckland Blues at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm. Curtain raiser: ACT Women's XV v Sydney Women's at 1.50pm. Tickets available from Ticketek. Entry is free for children.
Brumbies team: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Andrew Smith, 11. James Dargaville, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Lolo Fakaosilea, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 1. Nic Mayhew. Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Jarrad Butler, 21. De Wet Roos, 22. Jordan Jackson-Hope, 23. Aidan Toua.
Blues team: 15. Michael Collins, 14. Matt Duffie, 13. George Moala, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Piers Francis, 9. Augustine Pulu, 8. Akira Ioane, 7. Blake Gibson, 6. Steven Luatua, 5. Scott Scrafton, 4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons, 1. Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: 16. Matt Moulds, 17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18. SioneMafileo, 19. Leighton Price, 20. Murphy Taramai, 21. Billy Guyton, 22. Bryn Gatland, 23. Melani Nanai.
