ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has backed Len Ikitau to make inside centre his own at the national level after a starring performance against England.
Heading into last Sunday’s (AEDT) Test, Ikitau had played just one match at the position, a 23-22 defeat to the Highlanders in 2020, but was moved to accompany Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
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"You know, I've been playing 13 all my career. I just didn't want to change anything. I just said to myself, 'I'm going to play as a centre’,” Ikitau said on the move to reporters on Monday
"I just wanted to make sure that I was tackling well and attacking the ball well and, in the end, didn't really change too much in terms of the way I wanted to play."
However, Ikitau was the game-breaker for the Wallabies, setting up Max Jorgensen’s game-winner with a beautiful ball that has earned him the nickname ‘Flickitau’ from Wallabies teammate Tate McDermott.
“I thought it was one of his best games. I think that combination seemed to suit the team on the weekend,” Larkham said on his performance as the Brumbies revealed their 2025 squad.
“…I thought he was player of the match. Wearing the No.12 jersey is slightly different in certain situations in a game, particularly off set piece defensively, but outside of that, you saw from Lenny what he is very much capable of delivering week to week.”
Larkham had no qualms about Ikitau moving between the two if necessary for the future, with Samu Kerevi waiting in the wings for a potential return.
“I think centres are interchangeable,” he explained.
“Apart from first phase defence, they're on the edge of the line in attack, they're on the edge of the line in defence, so there's no real difference between playing 12 or 13.
"The form he had in that game and in Super Rugby, I think he is a world class centre and I think he should be in the Wallabies every week. Who you put in the centres and what combination you put them together in is irrelevant.”
In typical Ikitau fashion, the humble centre was quick to praise his partner Suaalii after his debut performance instead of focus on his own starring role.
"He's a freak, man!,” Ikitau remarked.
“Just being able to play next to him and just seeing what he can do on the field is awesome.
“We're expecting more from him, especially now that he's had his first game."
