Tom Decent is a journalist with Fairfax Media.
If the allegations levelled at James O'Connor – attempting to buy cocaine outside a Paris nightclub – are found to be true, the one-time golden boy of Australian rugby has almost certainly spoiled any chance of playing for the Wallabies again.
Regardless of whether Bernard Foley is deemed fit for the Waratahs' next match against the Lions in Johannesburg, coach Daryl Gibson has unearthed a potential secret weapon on the Highveld in replacement kicker Reece Robinson.
The NSW Waratahs ground their way to victory in their Super Rugby opener, prevailing 19-13 over the Force on a wet night at Allianz Stadium.
Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu says he can't wait to pack down against former teammate Tatafu Polota-Nau on Saturday but has warned the Western Force's new recruit they won't be mates when they get onto the turf of Allianz Stadium in the opening round of Super Rugby.
This time last year, Irae Simone, the Waratahs' new starting inside-centre, was given a simple ultimatum by his father Laauli when he turned his back on rugby league.
The chief executive of the Rugby Union Players' Association says players have expressed concern regarding the ambiguity of whether a Super Rugby team will be cut next season.
Ahead of the Super Rugby season, Tom Decent looks at five main talking points.
Wallabies back Dane Haylett-Petty says the ARU would be "crazy" to chop the Western Force from Super Rugby altogether in 2018.
Bernard Foley is in doubt for the Waratahs opening Super Rugby clash against the Western Force with coach Daryl Gibson set to give his star five-eighth until Thursday to overcome a concussion.
Wallabies great Simon Poidevin says the Australian Rugby Union needs to make the tough decision to cut a local Super Rugby team because the current five-team model is not financially sustainable.
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