Wallabies star returns to training following lengthy injury layoff
Wallabies star Tom Banks is back in training with the Brumbies ahead of next year’s inaugural Super Rugby Pacific campaign following an injury layoff.
Banks missed Australia’s end-of-year tour of Japan and the United Kingdom after fracturing his arm during his side’s second Rugby Championship victory over the Springboks in September.
Prior to his injury, the 27-year-old had been a key member of Dave Rennie’s national squad, having started in every test he was available for against France, the All Blacks and South Africa.
During his absence in Australia’s remaining tests of the year against Los Pumas, Japan, Scotland, England and Wales, Reece Hodge, Andrew Kellaway and Kurtley Beale shared the No 15 jersey.
However, as the Wallabies ended their season with their first winless tour of Europe in almost half a century, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Banks reinstated at fullback immediately next year.
Before then, though, he has to complete his injury comeback via the Brumbies, the side of which he has begun pre-season training with in preparation for the revamped version of Super Rugby in 2022.
Speaking to media on Monday, Banks said his injury recovery has progressed well as he moves from fitness-based training to contact sessions.
“It’s alright. I had surgery on it. All the reports are going really well. Starting contact progression now, so by the start of next year, it will be all good and ready to go,” he said.
“I’ve been doing a fair bit of fitness, but it’s good to be back touching the ball and seeing all the boys again.”
When asked about the performance of the Wallabies while he remained at home to rehabilitate his arm, the 19-test international refused to critique his teammates, instead outlining how their winless end to the year will benefit them moving forward.
Banks made particular note of how the results will impact his Brumbies teammates Len Ikitau, a rookie for the Wallabies this year, and Allan Alaalatoa, an international veteran and captain of the Canberra-based franchise.
“I think for the boys like Lenny [Len Ikitau], who really stepped up and had a really good end to the year, I think the confidence he’ll bring, and obviously we’ve got boys like Allan [Alaalatoa] and all those boys who will come back and add a lot to the group,” Banks said.
The one man the All Blacks can always rely on to break the line is Rieko Ioane – but they’ve still not made the most out of the 24-year-old’s talents this season.
Analysis from @BenSmithRugby ? https://t.co/IRflFZutOd
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) November 30, 2021
“In saying that, the new boys have really stepped up, they’ve laid a really good platform. It’s going to be good when all the boys come back together.”
Neither Ikitau, Alaalatoa or any of the recent Wallabies squad members have returned to training with their Super Rugby Pacific teams since the end of their northern hemisphere tour.
In their places, each of the five Australian franchises have been filled with youngsters, rookies and non-internationals looking to get themselves on the front foot ahead of the new campaign with a full pre-season under their belts.
By virtue of missing Australia’s end-of-year tour, Banks has joined that cohort at the Brumbies and has been impressed by what he’s seen from his teammates thus far.
“I think the best thing about it is everyone’s putting their hand up, wanting to be selected, training really hard. It’s a really competitive environment, which has been really good to see.”
Among those to have caught the eye is new recruit Cam Clark, the former Waratahs wing and Australian sevens star who has returned to Super Rugby following a season-long spell in Major League Rugby with the San Diego Legion.
The 28-year-old speedster said he was enjoying his time in the Australian capital, where he has been based for the past month, and said the presence of Banks, and other Wallabies, has been beneficial to all those involved in the Brumbies’ pre-season.
He’s long been recognised as one of the fastest members of the All Blacks squad, but it’s now been revealed just how quick Rieko Ioane is. #AllBlacks https://t.co/y2wsIALHk4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 30, 2021
“There’s some great leaders already in this group. Obviously the Wallabies guys are still to come back as well, so Banksy’s definitely putting his hand up and stepping into the leadership role,” Clark told reporters on Monday.
“Guys like Scott Sio are floating around as well, so there’s plenty of guys who offer a lot in training and I can definitely pick little things up from a bunch of guys here.”
Comparing the Brumbies to his experiences at the Waratahs and San Diego Legion, Clark said he is excited by what his “world-class” new side has to offer in Super Rugby Pacific.
“Obviously I had a little time away from Super Rugby in the last year, playing over in America, so coming in, you can tell why it’s been a successful programme in the past,” he said.
“The way the programme is put together, how close everyone is here in Canberra, it’s really good to see and it’s a world-class programme, so I’m really happy to be stepping into this.
“It’s great to have the opportunity, being away from Australia, to be back in Australia and playing on home turf. It’s really exciting, just the challenge of playing some awesome teams.
“I watched Super Rugby AU and the Trans-Tasman stuff, getting the chance to challenge yourself against the Kiwi teams and, obviously, there’s a couple of new teams that will be pretty exciting and add a bit of flair to the competition as well.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
2 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments