The Brumbies hung on for a 39-38 victory against the Western Force in round six of Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific at HBF Park, Perth.
A hat-trick to winger Andy Muirhead and a couple long-range classics earned the Brumbies victory, though the hard-fought win came at a cost with star fullback red carded for an accidental head clash with former Brumbies flyer Toni Pulu.
That incident will see Banks sit out for a period of time, the speedster’s finish the pick of the first half tries.
Stand-in skipper Ryan Lonergan was the first to cross for the Brumbies, the ACT local running a textbook halfback line to convert a superb Brumbies move.
The Brumbies were rampant in the first quarter, Muirhead grabbing his first off a patient attack inside the Force red zone.
Len Ikitau would then spark the Banks wondertry, electing to counterattack on his own line. Ikitau had the presence to find Banks and the fullback was never going to be caught once he had green pasture in front of him.
Then came the turning point of the game. A well-placed kick in behind from the Force gave Pulu the chance to run on to the ball. With the try line in sight, Banks covered and at speed, the two players clashed heads.
To the letter of the law, Banks had to be shown red, and the Force were awarded an automatic seven points.
Momentum now with the Force, Kyle Godwin ran in a runaway effort to draw the game to three points, sparking the beginning of the frenzy.
The Brumbies continued to attack, and despite being down to 14, they found a seem down the left edge and some superb skill from Ikitau released Muirhead into open space and the winger just had to run it in unopposed.
That wasn’t the end of the half-time scoring however, the Force charging down Lonergan against the run of play to cross under the sticks.
The second period was a tense, back and forth affair, though the Brumbies will feel they could have and perhaps should have buried the Force.
Nick Frost grabbed his second career try with Muirhead’s hat-trick cancelling out and impressive double from Force winger Manana Mataele.
A dogged performance from a Brumbies side full of youth, the final score of 39-38 a fantastic result to keep the Brumbies undefeated to start the 2022 season.
Western Force 38 (24) (T: Penalty try, Godwin, Strachan, Mataele 2; C: Prior 3, Kuenzle; P: Prior) def by Brumbies 39 (27) (T: R.Lonergan, Muirhead 3, Banks, Frost; C: R.Lonergan 43; P: R.Lonergan)
