Stephen Larkham keeps new Wallabies half Joe Powell on bench

Stephen Larkham has defended his decision to keep new Wallabies squad halfback Joe Powell on the bench.

Brumbies halfback Joe Powell: ‘He’s doing a fantastic job coming off the bench and adding some real impact,’ says his coach Stephen Larkham.

Brumbies coach Stephen Lark­ham has defended his decision to keep new Wallabies squad halfback Joe Powell on the bench for the Super Rugby game against the Sunwolves in Canberra tonight.

Powell, who has been backing up the Brumbies’ Argentine halfback Tomas Cubelli, was a shock selection in the Wallabies’ 39-man squad for the three-Test series against England next month.

With Cubelli being rested for the Sunwolves game, there was an opportunity for Powell to make his run-on debut for the Brumbies, but Larkham opted to start their third-string halfback Michael Dowsett.

“There’s no need for him to be in the starting team,” Larkham said. “He is doing a fantastic job coming off the bench and adding some real impact. Good direction to the forwards.

“We have spoken about this a number of times, the importance of these guys coming off the bench and adding impact.

“Most of the games come down to the last 20 minutes. He is ­coming off the bench for those last 20 minutes and doing a good job for us.”

Larkham, who is also the Wallabies attack coach, admitted he was “pleasantly surprised” when head coach Michael Cheika decided to select Powell.

“We had spoken about it as coaches,” Larkham said.

“The last thing I said to Cheik was these are my thoughts and he said, ‘OK, I’ve made my decision’, and that’s the way it goes, any coach gets the final say.

“I wasn’t sure if he was going to pick him or not. It was a pleasant surprise when I read the email that he was in.”

Most observers expected Melbourne Rebels captain Nic Stirzaker to be selected in the Wallabies squad along with No 9s Nick Phipps and Nick Frisby, but Larkham said Powell was among the “top three” halfbacks in Australia on form.

“If you look at the options for halfback in this Wallabies squad, he clearly stands out as being one of the top three in Australia at the moment.

“Looking at the form of the other halfbacks, he is clearly in the top three. He is there on performance, but he will gain a lot out of this opportunity at camp.”

Larkham said Powell had a complete game for a halfback.

“He’s got great understanding of rugby,” Larkham said. “Knows where to be on the paddock. ­Organises really well and has all the skills a halfback needs. Fitness, good pass, good speed.

“Added to that he is a great tackler.”

Larkham said he did not want Powell to change the way he played because he had been chosen for the Wallabies.

“When he has come off the bench he has given us control and added energy to the group,” ­Larkham said.

“We are just looking for the same this weekend.

“I’ve already spoken to him about not focusing too far ahead, not worrying about the camp and the Wallabies, just doing what he’s been doing.

“Hopefully, that’s his focus in this game.”

The Brumbies, who are in a neck and neck struggle with the NSW Waratahs for the Australian conference title, have won only one of their past four games against non-Australian opposition, but they are heavily favoured to beat the Sunwolves.

The Sunwolves are second last on the overall standings, but they have beaten the Jaguares and drawn with the Stormers in the past month.

“There is no need to be complacent against the Sunwolves,” Larkham said. “They are a very dangerous team in attack.

“They have obviously let some tries in, but they’ve certainly got some good attacking flair. We haven’t written them off at all.”