Super Rugby Round 17
McCutcheon to lead Waratahs
June 5, 2013
Waratahs flanker Pat McCutcheon evades David Pocock, Waratahs v Force, Super Rugby, Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, May 7, 2011
Pat McCutcheon (l) will have a difficult task leading a depleted Waratahs side © Getty Images
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Pat McCutcheon has been promoted to captain a vastly under-strength New South Wales Waratahs in their Super Rugby clash with the Western Force on Sunday.

McCutcheon takes over as skipper from Dave Dennis, one of 10 players made unavailable because they are in the Wallabies squad preparing to play the touring British & Irish Lions. A further six players including Wallabies Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sitileki Timani were ruled out by injury.

The mass absences open the door for lock Ollie Atkins to make his Waratahs debut and three other forwards, Will Skelton, Lopeti Timani and Jed Holloway, to make their first starts of the season.

They also forced coach Michael Cheika to hand NSW debuts to five up-and-coming club players: Parramatta lock Adam Coleman, Northern Districts flanker AJ Gilbert, Randwick duo Richard Aho (prop) and Terrence Hepetema (outside back) and Sydney University prop Sam Talakai.

All five are named on an extended bench, with the final match-day 22 to be confirmed later in the week.

McCutcheon will become the 164th player to captain NSW when he leads the team out on Sunday in Perth. He will be assisted by vice-captains Jeremy Tilse and Bernard Foley.

Waratahs: Drew Mitchell; Peter Betham, Tom Kingston, Tom Carter, Cam Crawford; Bernard Foley, Brendan McKibbin; Jed Holloway, Pat McCutcheon (captain), Lopeti Timani; Ollie Atkins, Will Skelton; Paddy Ryan, Jeremy Tilse, John Ulugia. Replacements (from): Sam Talakai, Luke Holmes, Damien Fitzpatrick, Richard Aho, Adam Coleman, AJ Gilbert, Matt Lucas, Grayson Hart, Terrence Hepetema, Ben Volavola.

© AAP

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