But the ACT Brumbies fullback wasn't thanking them for the countless hours they've spent on the sidelines over the years, although that was obviously at the top of the list.

Banks was saying thank you for allowing him to borrow their Foxtel login details so he could watch Test coach Michael Cheika name his team on television. The last thing he expected was his name to be read out.

"I was in my room actually. We don't have Foxtel and [housemate Wharenui Hawera] was asleep trying to beat jet lag. I thought I'd watch it to see which of the [Brumbies] boys got named," a smiling Banks said.

"But we don't have Foxtel, so I was watching it on my phone on mum and dad's account.

"When I heard my name I was pretty stoked. It was a pretty surreal moment, especially when you're not really expecting it.

"My parents called pretty quickly after, they were pretty stoked afterwards and then a few messages came through. But I spoke to mum and dad and that was about it. My mind was racing there for a fair while, I was pretty speechless."

Banks joined the Wallabies for the first time as an official squad member on Tuesday and will be like a sponge for the next three weeks soaking up as much as he can from star fullback Israel Folau.

Banks was relatively unknown when he was called into the Wallabies squad for a few training sessions last year, despite playing just 12 Super Rugby games.

That was a temporary arrangement when the team was in Canberra. This time he's the real deal and he forced his way on to Cheika's radar with some scintillating form in the past three weeks.

"It has been pretty crazy since coming to Canberra last year, there's been a lot of ups and downs but that's what footy is. Hopefully I can just put my best foot forward [in Wallabies camp]," Banks said.

"It gives you a lot more confidence knowing you're actually in the squad rather than coming in for a short space of time, and you've got to back yourself at that next level."

Banks has scored four tries in the past three games, including a brilliant solo effort against the Pretoria Bulls to lift the Brumbies to famous victory in South Africa.

He's the Brumbies' leading try-scorer this year with seven so far, but he's the first to admit his form was inconsistent in the early rounds in his first full Super Rugby campaign.

The 23-year-old has taken advantage of the Brumbies' "no fear" attitude over the past month and his willingness to back himself convinced Cheika to pick him as Folau's understudy.

"I definitely though my form at the start of the year [hurt my Wallabies chances]. The outside backs in Australian rugby are pretty talented," Banks said.

"So if you're not performing every week, it's pretty hard to get in. I tried to put that in the back of my mind and focus on a good tour to South Africa.

"I honestly think it's a mindset thing. Having the confidence to go out there and play with no fear, that's been a big thing at the Brumbies and that's really helped me."