Hooper to lead Tahs for first time
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Michael Hooper will captain the Waratahs for the first time against the Reds on Saturday, after the late withdrawal of Dave Dennis.
Initially expect to by be fit, Dennis has failed to recover from a knee injury sustained in Sunday’s bonus-point win over the Force.
His place in the starting line-up will be taken by Stephen Hoiles, with Pat McCutcheon joining the bench.
Invited to train with the squad for the 2014 pre-season, Hoiles was named on the bench for last week’s Force clash and came on for Dennis in the 66th minute.
The eight-year stretch between caps (he last played for the Waratahs on May 19, 2006) is bettered by only two other players (Phil Hardcastle 2/5/1938 to 27/7/1946 and Jack Turnbull 12/6/1939 to 24/5/1947) – both of whom had their careers interrupted by World War II.
Waratahs – revised: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Alofa Alofa, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Peter Betham, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Stephen Hoiles, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Jacques Potgieter, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements – from: 16 Tola Latu, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Pat McCutcheon, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Rob Horne, 23 Matt Carraro, 24 Pat McCutcheon, 25 Jonno Lance.
Date: Saturday, March 1
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19.40 (08.40 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Will Houston (Australia)
TMO: Peter Marshall (Australia)
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