Timing right for McCutcheon
* Bret Harris
* From: The Australian
* March 18, 2011 12:00AM
NSW Waratahs will get a glimpse of the future when Pat McCutcheon starts at openside flanker against the Cheetahs in Sydney tomorrow night.
McCutcheon has replaced injured openside flanker Phil Waugh, who has dominated the sky blue No 7 for 12 years.
During this time, many aspiring opensides have come and gone at the Waratahs, including Keith Gleeson, Lei Tomeki, Matt Hodgson and Beau Robinson.
But McCutcheon's timing might be better with
Waugh believed to be undecided about his future beyond this year.
"I've been popping a few retirement plans into his pigeon-hole," McCutcheon said yesterday. "See if he gets the idea."
McCutcheon knows he has big boots to fill, figuratively speaking at least.
"Over the past 10 years Waughy has had a stronghold over the No 7 jersey," McCutcheon said. "He has done a magnificent job.
"It's a big role to fill. You can gain or lose a game at the breakdown. Having to fulfil that role is quite a big deal.
"Hopefully, I can bring a lot of energy, a high workrate and try to win that first-phase ball 100 per cent of the time."
McCutcheon made his debut for the Waratahs at blindside flanker against the Highlanders towards the end of last year's Super rugby season.
He then played for the Australian Barbarians against England, captained the silver medal-winning Australian sevens team at the Commonwealth Games and toured Hong Kong and Europe with the Wallabies.
Building up from 100kg to 105kg in the off-season, McCutcheon is benefiting from the fact he can focus on the Waratahs this year rather than juggle the 15-a-side game and sevens.
"You are probably a little bit stronger and a little bit more physical," he said.
"At the same time you lose a bit of your endurance and your workrate.
"It's all about finding a balance. You feel you are getting through enough work, but you also feel you are physical enough to help the team."
This will be McCutcheon's first start at openside flanker for the Waratahs, having run on at blindside flanker in three previous games.
McCutcheon's match-up with the Cheetahs' outstanding openside flanker Heinrich Brussow will be crucial.
Along with Richie McCaw and David Pocock, Brussow is one of the three best opensides in world rugby.
Brussow was instrumental in the Springboks winning the 2009 Tri-Nations tournament.
"It's a big challenge," McCutcheon said. "He's a quality player.
"He is probably not going to be on top of his game (coming back from injury), but he is still a world-class player and you can never let that out of your sight."
A strong performance against Brussow would certainly not harm McCutcheon's World Cup chances.
"I don't think too many players are looking forward to the Wallabies," McCutcheon said. "We've still got another 10 or 12 rounds to go in Super 15.
"You have to be performing at this level before you can say you can perform at the Wallabies' level."
lWallabies outside centre Rob Horne has re-signed with the ARU and the NSW Waratahs for another two years, as revealed exclusively on
www.theaustralian.com.au yesterday morning.
