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Watch: Wallabies centre fends off ex-All Black to set up 100-metre length of the field try
By Sam Smith
Wallabies centre Len Ikitau sparked a length of the field try in his side’s thrilling 39-38 win over the Force in Perth combining with Brumbies’ teammate and Wallaby fullback Tom Banks to go coast-to-coast.
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Receiving the ball on his own goal posts, Ikitau stood up Kyle Godwin one-on-one with some smart footwork before fending off ex-All Black lock Jeremy Thrush square in the chest on the inside.
The Brumbies outside centre was able to squeeze past the Force pair before turning on the gas to break upfield. Looking for support, he found the perfect support player in speedster Tom Banks who turned on the jets to add misery on the Force.
Why kick when you have Len Ikitau ⚡️#FORvBRU #SuperRugbyPacific 📺 @StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/d7QqXUpYPl
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) March 26, 2022
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Len Ikitau is a superstar. #FORvBRU #SuperRugbyPacific
— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) March 25, 2022
That’s 3rd try for the Brumies scored by Banks was a joy to see, #ForVBru magnificent try hard to beat open running rugby
— Mick (@mickobrien0) March 25, 2022
Banks outran former Chiefs wing Toni Pulu to score the long-range try and extend the Brumbies lead to 20-3 after 27 minutes of play.
“That is absolutely brilliant from the Brumbies. You will never see a better try in the West, unbelievable,” Stan Sport’s commentator praised.
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Minutes later after the superb effort, the Brumbies fullback was sent off in the 29th minute for what had appeared an accidental head clash with Toni Pulu while the Force wing was trying to bring in a bouncing ball five metres from the try line.
Banks was red-carded for the tackle and ended up having to be hospitalised with a suspected fractured checkbone, forcing the visitors to play a man down for 20-minutes.
The Force were awarded a penalty try which sparked a furious comeback, where they scored three tries while the Brumbies were down a man.
Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar was critical of the decision which could have cost his side dearly, as they escaped with a 39-38 win in the end.
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“It’s a high-speed, high-collision game,” Brumbies head coach McKellar told Stan Sport.
“Banksy is coming across at full speed, TP changes direction and there’s a head clash.
“If Tom Banks has a nasty bone in his body or goes out there to deliberately hurt someone, then I don’t know the bloke.
“I thought the decision was wrong, and as a game we have to look at those sort of things.”
