Israel Folau is slightly off his game, but there appears to be greater concern at the Waratahs over the form slump of their gigantic forward, Will Skelton. Ruck'n Maul has been told Waratahs team-mates have noted that Skelton is "struggling with confidence" and are working on reviving his spirits. The 140kg Skelton's high-impact game last year saw him rightfully elevated to the Wallabies side, but this season he has not been so prominent. Skelton isn't alone in that category at the Waratahs, as several others who were instrumental cogs in them winning the Super Rugby title for the first time last season have also been quiet. The Waratahs need all of their big names performing, including Skelton, if they are to have any hope against the Brumbies.

Waratahs sources have also told Ruck'n Maul that the team appears to be distracted by lobbying from applicants and panel members involved in appointing the coach to take over from Michael Cheika next season. Cheika is apparently getting "very, very angry" about the situation.

Selection of overseas-based Wallabies a moot question

Rebels and former Munster coach Tony McGahan had some interesting comments when asked whether the Wallabies should be able to select overseas-based players such as Kane Douglas and Salesi Ma'afu for the Rugby World Cup. Speaking on ruggamatrix, McGahan said: "It's one thing asking players to come back. But the biggest thing is the club itself. Are they going to release Salesi or Kane Douglas? They have paid a lot of money for those guys to play for 12 months of the year. They haven't paid that money for them to go back and have international aspirations and be out of their program for period of times with the risk of injury. They would have gone after someone else. I know at Munster we wouldn't be doing it [release players]. And if it was the case, we would have gone after a different player."

What about using Japan as a source of supplementary income to keep players in Australian rugby?

"We need to be creative with what we do, and there should be some criteria around this," McGahan said. "We don't want to see young guys going over there, who have played only two or three years of Super Rugby, and missing out on pre-seasons. But I think if you have reached a certain criteria, which could include a substantial amount of time playing professional rugby plus international rugby, doing something like that would be creative. We do need to do everything possible to keep the highest calibre of players remaining in Australia. We don't want to be losing a Test XV each year."

Wallabies coach goes for the bolters

When asked his reaction to the Wallabies dropping to No 6 in the world rankings, Michael Cheika was as usual straight on the front foot. He explained that even with this lowly ranking, it would stupid to say Australia were among the 2015 World Cup no hopers.

"If you're in the tournament, of course you can win," Cheika said. "It's a moot point because we're in it. So can Japan and so can Uruguay or Fiji or anyone, and what ranking are they?"

Let's just say you would be able to buy a Caribbean island if you successfully backed even three of Japan (ranked No.11), Uruguay (No.20), Fiji (No.12) and Australia to make the World Cup semi-finals. Australia are currently rated by some bookies as $11 World Cup chances, while Japan, Uruguay and Fiji are all at $501 Get in early!

Adam Thomson and Lance Armstrong

A classic Tweet from former All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson on the trials and tribulations of playing with the Reds this season.

Tough night at the office, sometimes I get down about it but then I remember I have the same no. of Tour de France wins as Lance Armstrong..

— Adam Thomson (@adamjohnthomson) March 7, 2015

Also worth noting how Thomson refers to himself on his Twitter page.

No mention of @Reds_Rugby? © Getty Images

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Would you have ever thought someone from the Crusaders, a franchise that has won the Super Rugby title seven times, would say "Teams don't respect us". That's what coach Todd Blackadder uttered last week before the match against the Lions. The clever rev-up worked: the Crusaders won and the gradual climb towards the top of the ladder has begun.

Also at last former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans' name has bobbed up in the New Zealand media as someone who should be considered to replace Sir John Kirwan as the Blues coach. It will be an interesting mix if it happens, as many South Islanders look upon Auckland as the enemy, and vice versa.

Thank you, Conor O'Shea

Pleasing to see that some in the north have taken note of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen comment that rugby was currently boring. One of the better comments came from Harlequins director of rugby, Conor O'Shea who said: "If it is a sin to want to play rugby, and not just kick-chase and put pressure on the defence, then I think the game has a massive question to ask itself."

If a season launches and no one hears about it …

The Sydney Shute Shield club rugby season launch this week didn't get much publicity. Maybe, as club representatives noted, it was because there were no press representatives in the room. This could have had something to do with the fact the media ranks are still waiting for their invitations to arrive. Those at the launch nonetheless learned the Seven Network will be televising the Shute Shield this year, as revealed in Ruck'n Maul last month; it will be broadcast on the 7TWO channel.

Media representatives were subsequently delighted to be invited to the Randwick launch on Thursday, and to again meet up with much loved club stalwart Jeffrey Sayle, who is about to be directly involved in his 65th consecutive year with the Galloping Greens - either as a player, coach or official. His role this year is third-grade scrum coach.

And in the first round of the competition this weekend, former Reds back Sam Lane will be involved in a strange anniversary. Two years ago, he seriously damaged a knee while playing for Manly against Parramatta at Granville Park. On Saturday he at last makes his return … for Manly against Parramatta at Granville Park.

Whispers of the Week

- We have good mail that Sam Burgess, who is chasing a Rugby World Cup spot with England, will be back in the Sydney NRL ranks sooner than expected.

- Another close colleague of Michael Cheika's could soon have a prominent role. Keep an eye on the Waratahs coaches box in the next few weeks. After all it is where the recently appointed Wallabies team manager Pat Molihan bobbed up during last year's Super Rugby final.

- Is there really the CV of an Australian Super Rugby coach on the desk at Wasps?

- Concerns at one Australian franchise over Aus$24,000 having gone missing, which could have ramifications higher up the food chain. The coach at another franchise is blaming "lack of board help" for recent problems.

- A Shute Shield club is worried about a 'substance' problem being made public.

- A prominent official has told his chairman that he is willing to stay on for two more years, but he wants a "sign on bonus" believed to be Aus$250,000 to do so.