Movie star mistaken identity as All Blacks great Tana Umaga tells Brumbies to keep attacking

Fullback Tom Banks made a compelling statement for more game time in his first start in the No. 15 jersey on Sunday, but it was a case of mistaken identity for a Hollywood actor after the game.

Banks and Aidan Toua will compete for the fullback spot for the Brumbies' next game against the Johannesburg Lions at Canberra Stadium on May 12.

Coach Stephen Larkham will have two weeks to ponder changes after a lacklustre loss against the Auckland Blues as the home side failed to fire shots in an 18-12 defeat.

But it was Banks who caught the eye of former All Black and Blues coach Tana Umaga, who mistakenly thanks Banks' name was "Tom Hanks" in his post-match wrap up.

The Brumbies don't need Hollywood fame, but they do need to find something or someone who can ignite their season and Banks is one of the contenders pushing his name forward.

Banks made three clean breaks, beat six defenders and kicked just three times. Toua possesses the same silky skills but only one will be able to take the fullback spot.

Banks' inclusion sent Umaga scrambling for footage of the 22-year-old.

"The people who bring the most fear to us are the people we don't know," Umaga said.

"You don't have much information. The fullback, he's got electric speed and were were trying to find some footage of him and where he'd come from.

"I tried to watch him during the warm up and you can't see much there, but he's got a turn of pace and he must have the skills because he's got the backing of his coach. And he went well."

The Brumbies slumped to their third straight defeat in another tight match against the Blues. It's the first time the Brumbies have lost three in a row since 2011.

They will stew on the result for two weeks before playing against the Lions in Canberra and then going around the world to play in Port Elizabeth and Buenos Aires.

Larkham has attempted to shift to an attacking mindset over the past month, but it has delivered mixed results.

The Brumbies were kept try-less against the Blues and haven't got across the line in their past 120 minutes of rugby.

The crazy world of Super Rugby sees the Brumbies above the Blues on the overall ladder. The Brumbies are the top-ranked Australian team while the Blues are the lowest New Zealand side.

But the confusing conference system has the Brumbies in fourth place on 18 points while the Blues are stuck in ninth on 22 points.

The Brumbies are chasing Australia's guaranteed spot and still have a five point lead at the top of the table, but the looming NSW Waratahs play against the Blues this week for a chance to draw level.

"We realise we're at the bottom of the New Zealand conference and when you're not winning, that's the way it is," Umaga said.

"We've just got to pick every game off as we come across it and hopefully we're still in the hunt. It's not ideal the way the competition is structured, but it is what it is.

"...If [the Brumbies] buy into [attacking] and commit wholeheartedly, then you'll get success because everyone is on the same page.

"They've made some shifts and I think they'll only get better."