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Make or break season looms for off-contract Australian World Cup absentee Joe Powell

By Online Editors
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

There are few players with more on the line this Super Rugby season than Brumbies halfback Joe Powell.

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Powell has been the starting halfback in Canberra since 2017 and has earned four Wallabies caps in that time.

The 25-year old was one of the last players cut from Australia’s World Cup squad that made the quarter-finals in Japan last year.

Continue reading below…

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Powell was pipped to the second halfback spot by England-based Nic White – who joins the Brumbies next season.

It means in 2020 Powell, who is off-contract this year, is not only playing for his Wallabies future but his club starting spot too.

But if Powell lights up Super Rugby then the Wallabies No. 9 spot is there for the taking after Will Genia left for Japanese rugby.

It all adds up to a high-stakes season for the surfer-looking university student.

The other Wallaby contenders at halfback are Waratahs Jake Gordon and emerging Queensland Reds talent Tate McDermott.

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Powell had a solid game against Fijian international halfback Frank Lomani as the Brumbies thrashed the Melbourne Rebels in a trial on Thursday.

He emphasised his focus was playing consistently for the Brumbies before thinking about international honours.

“First I need to be playing good footy for the Brumbies and making sure I’m the starting halfback,” Powell told AAP.

“If I can play consistently good footy then hopefully higher honours will come and I’ll force my way into the Wallabies.”

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Brumbies coach Dan McKellar promoted Powell to vice-captain this year and backed him to have the best season of his career.

“He’s been outstanding in the pre-season,” McKellar said.

“I’ve often spoken to Joey about driving standards of himself and others and demanding more of himself and others and he’s starting to do that now.

“I thought his kicking game (against the Rebels) was excellent. His pass and speed at the breakdown was good and he took his opportunities when they came.

“But the best part about his game is what he does in defence for us, he directs the big units around the ruck and he was good there again.”

– AAP

In other news:

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Trevor 34 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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