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

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
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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

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Phantom 1 hour ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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