Australia’s rookie star Len Ikitau has revealed his first thought when Dave Rennie messaged him last year to invite him into the Wallabies camp.
“I thought someone was taking the piss and lying,” the 22-year-old said on Tuesday after it was revealed he had re-signed with the Brumbies and Wallabies until after the 2023 World Cup.
Ikitau made his international debut against France this season and has played every game in the centres during The Rugby Championship.
His excellent campaign was capped with a try double in the Wallabies 30-17 win over South Africa in his hometown Brisbane on Saturday night.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
“I scored two tries, but they were team tries I guess, I was in the right place,” Ikitau said. “I feel like I’m just trying to get better each week and improve my game.”
Ikitau started all games of the Brumbies Super Rugby games at No.13 this year scoring six tries including a match winner against the Hurricanes.
He was picked as a bolter in Rennie’s first Wallabies squad last year after less than 80 minutes of Super Rugby.
It was, he admits, a huge transition and one he struggled with last year.
“When I was in the squad, I was too shy or didn’t want to speak to anyone, kept to myself and I guess a year later it’s different, I’m much more confident in myself and my ability so I’m just happy to be in the squad again,” he said.
There has been plenty of change in the Wallabies centres with Hunter Paisami, Matt Toomua and Samu having spent time there, along with Ikitau having to fit alongside two fifferent No.10s in Quade Cooper and Noah Lolesio.
“It’s been good having Quade there and [James O’Connor] now,” he said. “They’re experienced, they’ve done it all in the game. And that was good to learn from them and keep learning.”
Ikitau sat beside former Brisbane Boys College schoolmate Darcy Swain at Tuesday’s press conference in Townsville.
“He had a big left foot step and two massive shoulders,” Swain said when asked about his early impressions of Ikitau.
“I remember he came out of school for his first session down in Vikings and the man was benching 140 for eight, it was ridiculous for an 18-year-old, I can’t even do 120kgs for one now.
“He’s a big unit so his physicality, he’s one of the most physical centres in the game, and on top of that he’s elusive with great skills and he’s always had that from a young age, he’s just gotten better.”
Ikitau gave thanks to his teammate for helping through his early shyness.
“There was a couple of times I just wanted to go home and he kind of stopped me from doing that, so I’m just thankful for having Darcy there,” Ikitau said.
Swain meanwhile revealed a Wallabies commitment to “project themselves” as force to be reckoned with ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
“At the start of camp we pitched the idea of the World Cup in two years,” Swain said. “Not knowing who will be there but, regardless, it’s about what we can do now for the team in order to project ourselves to where we want to be in a couple of years time.
“Every week is important. It’s building momentum now. And making sure that we play the right type of footy and give ourselves confidence that we can build and build and build towards that.
“The last two games were great wins but they count for nothing if we don’t back it up.”
He said Argentina are a great side despite losing all four matches so far in TRC.
“We know they play with a lot of physicality and a lot of passion,” said Swain.
“We’ll give them the same respect as we give South Africa and New Zealand. Knowing, that there’s going to be threats and at the same time opportunities, we’re going to have to be good both sides of the ball.”
The Wallabies are on a high after the Springboks double but Swain said “from a team perspective, that that means bugger all if we don’t go out there and do it again.
“No one will remember winning two games against South Africa, everyone will remember us losing against Argentina.
“We’ve got to be we’ve got to be just as good if not better this week against the passionate Argentina.”
Geoff
Guest
Running is all Perese is good at, he is poor defensively and he has no passing game.You need those qualities in a test player to play 13.Its ikitau`s jersey to lose. Paisaimi is next in line after Ikitau.
Phil
Roar Rookie
I think Ive read him say it’s his preferred position. He played a bit at the Tahs but Folau was 15 so he didn’t get much time at 15. I read he played 13 a bit too in the UK. Other than that I’m not really sure but he looks like he’s be very good at 15. It does mean we’d have a short back 3 but I’d still like to see it.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Ikatau is the WB find of the season imo. He's far better than Paisami on every criteria (which is not hard). Ikatau is bigger, taller, has low error rate, kicks better, tackles great and .... as shown for the Brumbies and WBs all of 2021 season - he's a better, faster more penetrative runner with excellent offload skills. Welcome to international rugby Len :thumbup:
Markus
Roar Rookie
I'm happy for Frost not to be rushed. Has a huge motor but still developing his set piece play and still bulking up, he looks at least 5kg heavier since last year. He and Hosea will play plenty of tests.
Fin
Roar Rookie
Must admit i didn't see it at first. Has a lot more to his game than i realised.
Richie
Roar Rookie
Similar to Kelleway, he can certainly find the try line.
Richie
Roar Rookie
I like it Phil. Has Kelleway played much 15?
Connor33
Guest
Agreed: “ Showed a lot of class in jockeying on the second last man and then able to shift and take the winger after the ball was shifted on at least one key attempted break from SA.” I’m thinking my tip his hat to this one in his article. It was awesome. AAC and TK could do the same; when concede space for time.
Marlin
Roar Rookie
Ikitau has wrong me right over. I watched the SR game (I believe) against the Hurricanes - as Tony says in the article, he scored a match winning try but the scores were.close and it needed to be converted. What struck me at the time was he was more interested in the flashy dive than in running it around under the post to make the kick easier. From memory they missed the conversion and only won the game due to missed kicks by the Canes. In other words I thought he was playing for himself rather than for the team. It looks like he may have come around to a more team orientated mindset which I believe makes him a better player. Hope he goes well against the Pumas.
Markus
Roar Rookie
As Richie said Pasitoa is from WA so makes sense, for Kuenzle I assume they couldn’t compete with Twiggy money or a chance to claim a starting spot which he won’t get with Lolesio ahead of him. I don’t think it was a great move though, he would have seen far more game time in rotation with Lolesio and Simone covering 10 and 12.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Would love to see him get a start on the wing with Kellaway to 15
Phil
Roar Rookie
Iona has since steered Gordon to the Shute Shield title and played for Samoa. He could be on the up and ready for it now.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Lots of question marks still on Perese. I am hoping the days of selecting players that you are clearly overlooking glaring weaknesses are in the past with Cheika.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Most underrated skill in Oz rugby.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Simone is very unlucky. I would seriously have looked at him even as my backup playmaker but with Hodge on the bench it is difficult to fit everyone in. I felt in the earlier games we needed Simone for communication as our backline was just going side to side with none at the helm.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately Muirhead is very small for a Wallabies winger and I feel his size will always keep him at SR level. Simone will always be behind Kerevi but very unlucky not to be on the bench as the backup playmaker. I guess Hodge is the reason for this.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Just glad the roar community is starting to recognise how good Ikitau is.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Ikitau plays way above his weight, doesn't he? He hits hard and breaks tackles - you'd swear he was + 100kg, but is listed at 90kg. He needs to work with his Brumbie mate Simone who is the exact opposite, listed at 105kg but plays way lighter.
Richie
Roar Rookie
Pasitoa is from Perth so not surprised to see him go, however a conversation with then attack coach Hewat a few years ago told me that the brumbies would never let pasitoa go. IMO he’ll do well eventually.
Tony Harper
Editor
Eek! That's what it was when I was laying in bed last night wondering what I'd forgotten. Won't happen again. :shocked: