ACT Brumbies fullback Tom Banks hopes he can be the spark to help the Wallabies avoid a disastrous end to the Rugby Championship, adamant the players won't be weighed down by a horror losing stretch.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Banks looms as the man to be added to the Wallabies game-day squad for a clash against Argentina in Salta on Sunday morning and injuries could open the door for him to snatch a starting XV spot.
Jack Maddocks (thumb) has been sent back to Australia and Marika Koroibete is recovering from a head knock, leaving the Wallabies thing on back-line weapons.
The Wallabies' attack has failed to fire so far this year, scoring an average of just 16.75 points per game. It's statistically their lowest return per game in 40 years.
But Banks, who scored nine tries in the Super Rugby season, doesn't carry the burden of the Wallabies recent poor run of losing eight of the past 10 Tests.
"If I get picked, best foot forward and hopefully I do well," Banks said. "It's unfortunate for Maddocks getting that thumb injury, he was playing pretty well.
"[Marika] trained today, he seemed alright. He's a pretty quiet guy anyway so you don't really know what's happening. Hopefully he pulls through and he'll be able to play.
"Obviously if I was to start I think it'd be one of my dreams. Cheik will make that call when he has to."
Banks has played two Tests this year and said the Wallabies needed to be mentally tough to get through a period where they are struggling to replicate training moves in match situations.
"You can't really avoid it, you've got to look hard and realise we have lost eight out of the last 10," Banks said. "But what we're trying to build towards as a team is bigger than that. As a team, we've got to realise we can keep building mentally and then the wins will come after that."
"With the losses, you've just got to put that behind you and try and build each week. It's tough at international level. Wins don't come easily and we've figured that out."
Joe Powell will continue his bid to earn a Wallabies recall when he joins the Canberra Vikings for their clash against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka on Saturday.
Powell was left out of the Wallabies side to tour South Africa and Argentina in the hope game time in the National Rugby Championship would help him get back to his best.
Powell will be named at scrumhalf on Thursday, with rookie flanker Rob Valetini (knee) and hooker Josh Mann-Rea (back) also expected to make their comebacks from injury in the Fijian match.
Meanwhile, Banks is adamant Israel Folau hasn’t lost sleep over a tidal wave of criticism following his decision not pass to Bernard Foley in the dying seconds of the Wallabies’ loss to Argentina on the Gold Coast.
Ahead of the second meeting between the sides this year, the Wallabies will be hoping Folau can replicate the brilliance he showed on the Gold Coast when he beat four defenders with four potent right-foot steps before scoring one of the best five-pointers of his career.
That was in sharp contrast to what happened on the stroke of full-time, which prompted Foley to raise both hands in disbelief when Folau selfishly tried to beat a handful of Pumas defenders when a certain try was there for the taking.
Had the try been scored, Australia would have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and it is almost certain there would not be as much scrutiny on a team now battling to get out of a rut.
While Folau looked dangerous throughout the previous Pumas match on Australian soil, it is safe to say the Wallabies coaching staff would have asked for a please explain after the game.
"He had a good game, he scored that unbelievable try and he's not focused on what people are saying," Banks said. "I don't think he looks at social media. He's an unbelievable player and he's not worried about that."
