Brilliant Banda keen to bamboozle rivals
Standing tall in the face of adversity will make versatile Masixole Banda a marked man in the second half of the Guinness PRO14 season.
Despite his team’s lowly log position, the inventive Banda impressed with his golden boot and an eye for the gap.
With his team now on a mid-season break, Banda can look back on their opening 10 matches with a measure of personal satisfaction.
A vital cog in the Kings’ works, Banda has played fullback and flyhalf when required and proved to be a points machine for the struggling team.
Banda is fourth on the list of top PRO14 kickers and his tally of 60 points comprises 21 conversions and six penalties.
Connacht’s Jack Carty and Sam Davies (Ospreys) top the charts with 75 points apiece.
Edinburgh flyhalf Simon Hickey is third with 68 points.
Though Banda was on the losing side against the Scarlets in round 5 of the competition in September, he still stole the show against the Welsh outfit.
The diminutive No 15 scored a brilliant try, engineered another and kicked four conversions and two penalties in a thrilling performance at the Madibaz Stadium.
It took the Kings two minutes to register the first points against the Scarlets after Banda danced his way through their defence to score a brilliant try.
The ever-present Banda was in the thick of the action when the Kings scored their second try after 21 minutes.
The fullback kicked ahead and wing Yaw Penxe collected and dived in under the posts.
“I enjoy my attacking, especially when I have ball in hand.
“That is when I get excited, because I know I have quick feet and speed,” Banda said.
He will be hoping the second half of the season is just as productive as the Kings seek to rise from the foot of the log.
Kings head coach Deon Davids said he would press the reset button before his team’s next match against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on January 5.