The Brumbies and Waratahs have conducted a concerted public relations campaign this week to convince all that they are all really good mates despite recent rifts, nasty comments and altercations. Nice try, but the reality is somewhat different. The relationship between the Brumbies and Waratahs has always been testy. But the past few years it has become acrimonious. Last season, there was the fallout from the Wallabies' Dublin drinking affair; and this year we've had on-field complaints from David Pocock and the Brumbies over Waratahs forward Jacques Potgieter's homophobic comments towards one of their players.

Each team has been very careful over what they have said this week, pushing the line that the Potgieter issue is "dead and buried". Nothing has been said in the public domain to inflame the opposition. But that does not mean the match in Canberra will be one big love-in. Feeling between the two teams remains intense, with Waratahs staff this week less than impressed by "derogatory comments" made by their counterparts, which revolves around how much some at the Brumbies abhor those from New South Wales. Ruck'n Maul has even been told of interesting barbs thrown between the head offices. No matter who wins, said barbs could affect future working partnerships. And while on the Tahs, our Moore Park snouts say the relationship between the NSW Rugby Union and some members of the Waratahs board is again tense.

Mauls to draw increasing official attention

Expect rolling mauls to be heavily policed by Super Rugby referees from tonight. After a recent spate of tries being scored from driving mauls emanating from lineout wins, the moans that many of the drives are actually illegal have grown louder. Numerous coaches have complained over the years that the rolling maul is unfair, because it is not an actual contest for the ball but a carefully constructed shepherd or obstruction. The concern amplifies when teams flaunt the law, as was the case last weekend when players rushed in from an offside position to provide more power to the drive. There were also cases of the ball carrier being allowed to get away with re-attaching to the maul.

The law is simple. It reads: "Players joining the maul. Players joining a maul must do so from behind the foot of the hindmost teammate in the maul. The player may join alongside this player. If the player joins the maul from the opponents' side, or in front of the hindmost teammate, the player is offside."

If this occurs, the opposition should receive a penalty. It is bound to become an issue during the Brumbies-Waratahs match, and the pressure will be on New Zealand referee Glen Jackson.

Increasing concern in Queensland

While some in Brisbane adopt a Alfred E Neuman-esque "what, me worry" about the on-field collapse of Queensland Reds, the pressure is intensifying on major provincial figures - including in the head office. Questions have been asked as to why no drastic action has been made given the outfit is squirming in 13th spot with just two wins from 10 games - and instead all that is offered is "excuses, excuses". Despite some believing that Richard Graham has been hardly done by and should be allowed to hold onto the head coaching spot next year, numerous influential Queensland figures are angry with the team's often dreadful performances in 2015, and the lack of harmony within the player group. It is known that the Quade Cooper "has he or hasn't he" signed with Toulon carry-on has irritated many, while another leading player has been isolated due to recent unusual acts. It is known that fringe players are looking elsewhere for contracts. As one Reds insider said: "Queensland is critical to Australian rugby and the decline under the current coach is disturbing. Last weekend's performance [against the Hurricanes] has been seen as shambolic, embarrassingly short of troops and ideas. But the easy, populist fix of Ewen McKenzie returning to run the Reds appears to have been blocked by a looming court case involving the ARU." The insider was referring to former Waratahs business manager Di Patston's action against the ARU. At least the Reds made one good decision this week, with the Brisbane media reporting that All Blacks legend Brad Thorn has agreed to school Queensland rugby's emerging forwards after he retires in England next month.

In praise of Angus Gardner

The New Zealand media take great delight in slagging off Australian Rugby. It's such an easy target. So, many locals had to look twice when perusing stuff.co.nz during the week to discover one of its writers, Ben Strang, praising an Australian referee. We kid you not. Strang even went as far as saying that Angus Gardner was the form referee of the Super Rugby competition, "making the right calls on almost every occasion". Strang was impressed with Gardner's efforts in the Force-Chiefs match, believing Ian Prior's red card and the Chiefs penalty try were both correct rulings. How long will this Australian appreciation continue? (It must be noted that both decisions by Gardner, correct as they were, did favour the New Zealand team.)

Tony Abbott delights Marlins

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, an old rah-rah player and coach, turned up at Manly Oval recently to launch the Marlins' club history, entitled: Sun, Surf and Scrums. Shortly after Abbott, who is also the local MP, began his speech, a seat upon which three children were perched collapsed. His immediate retort was: "I told you there were no safe seats over here."

10-4 Rubber Ducky

Last week's item about a high-profile Sydney rugby writer winning a rugby club raffle prize that included beauty and health products, prompted many, concerned that their tough-boy image could be tarnished, to call in to say it wasn't them. We have since heard that the scribe's prizes may have even included hair gel, soap on a rope, bath salts, bubble bath liquid and a rubber ducky. No wonder he's laying low.

Whispers of the Week

• Michael Cheika is at odds with two Australian rugby media identities. The rift with one has been simmering all season and is now toxic, while with the other has nose-dived in recent weeks due to claims of "bad mouthing" at a pre-match function that Cheika didn't attend. Apparently the media type did not hold back in expressing his negative thoughts about the Wallabies coach.
• Good to hear several Waratahs still know how to enjoy themselves, with several blown away by the bush experience at a recent country wedding.. Even the locals, who do know something about partying, were impressed with their stamina.
• We hear cashed-up Balmain subbies club and Sydney University are in "serious conversation" over the formation of a "newly combined entity".
• Complaints of what may have been a racist slur by an official towards an Australian provincial player are being investigated. There will be a major fallout if the claim is found to be true.
• And what's this about a proposed ARU visit to one of the provinces to "view the state of the franchise" being postponed after the intervention of an influential provincial director who has the constant ear of an ARU board member? Who's leading who?