The Lions have been hit with a couple of sucker punches so far on their tour of New Zealand. The latest of these came on Tuesday when they were beaten for the second time in four matches. Super Rugby side Highlanders kicked a late penalty to topple Warren Gatland's side.
The man who kicked it, Marty Banks, spoke to Radio Sport in New Zealand yesterday and revealed he came off the bench despite having a fractured rib.
We think it might have been fractured for a few weeks before that, but it was definitely broken in the Crusaders game last week.
But I didn't really want to give up the opportunity to play against the Lions. If I'd finished the season and I hadn't given myself the chance to play against the Lions, it would have been pretty miserable in a few years when I looked back on it.
The doc was nice enough to throw a needle in it before the game.
Banks is a bit of a cult hero in New Zealand. While playing for the Tasman Makos last year, he scored a key try against Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cup semi-final. After he celebrated by throwing the ball into the stands, a Taranaki fan hurled a can of beer at him.
Not missing a trick, Banks picked it up and took a swig. He then whacked over the conversion to extend the Tasman lead and put them into the final.
But wait, there's more.
He wasn't even supposed to be with the Highlanders this year. Last May, he signed a contract with Benetton Treviso and was supposed to link up with his new side in October. The only problem was, he didn't, with a spokesman for Treviso saying:
Banks never arrived in Italy and therefore rightly is [listed as an] unavailable player, especially because he signed a contract with us.
The reason for his absence remains unknown.
Why Marty Banks isn't with our club is a question to do not to us, but to the player or his agent
He resurfaced at the Highlanders and went on to further his legend by kicking the winner against the Lions.
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