Tom Decent is a journalist with Fairfax Media.
Michael Hooper never even dreamed of playing professional rugby as a child, but on Saturday the Waratahs captain will become the youngest player in Super Rugby history to play 100 matches when he lines up against his former club at Allianz Stadium.
There's no clear Super Rugby picture for the future as contract talks are delayed again for non-Wallabies players.
Australia's five Super Rugby franchises hope to find out on Tuesday if they have a future in the competition after reports in South Africa said two teams would be axed this year.
Daryl Gibson says the formation of the Waratahs back line is up for review after NSW slumped to their second straight defeat in South Africa.
Australian Super Rugby teams have had their worst start to a season in the seven years that five franchises have existed.
Two tries to Israel Folau was not enough for the NSW Waratahs as they succumbed to their second heavy loss in as many weeks, going down 37-14 to the Sharks in Durban.
​Super Rugby will change next year and an Australian team could be in the firing line after it emerged New Zealand argued strongly for a reduction to a 15-team competition.
The Waratahs can breathe a sigh of relief after scans cleared five-eighth Bernard Foley of any abnormalities relating to the serious concussion that ruled him out of football indefinitely.
Former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer says Western Force, ACT Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels fans need to do a better job at showing why their club deserves to remain in Super Rugby amid speculation an Australian team could be cut as early as next season.
With an all-important SANZAAR meeting scheduled this week to determine the future of Super Rugby, we break down the pros and cons of cutting each Australian franchise.
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