Quade Cooper says 21-year-old Waratahs five-eighth Mack Mason has plenty of "talent" and believes being around the Wallabies squad will make his end goal of playing international rugby feel far more achievable.

Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu grins from ear to ear when you bring up that try from the Waratahs match on the weekend against the Chiefs.

NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson still believes he is the right man for the top job and says his future within the organisation sits solely with the board.

Four second-half tries gave the NSW Waratahs a chance to produce a miracle win, but it wasn't enough as the Chiefs ran away 46-31 winners in Hamilton on Saturday.

NSW Waratahs captain Michael Hooper has no doubt Wallabies back row bolter Ned Hanigan can continue on an upward trajectory as he pushes for an international start.

The Waratahs say that if they can hold on to the ball and play to their attacking potential they are every chance of troubling the Chiefs this weekend – something recent history and statistics prove.

Nick Phipps will miss the Waratahs' match on the weekend against the Chiefs but NSW coach Daryl Gibson believes "he'll be fine" for the Wallabies' first Test against Fiji in Melbourne.

Uncapped Wallabies squad members Jack Dempsey and Ned Hanigan have declared themselves ready to rip into Test rugby while expressing thanks to those they have replaced.

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson concedes the only chance NSW have of qualifying for the Super Rugby finals is if the ACT Brumbies trip up in their next three games.

The NSW Waratahs squandered a half-time lead to go down 44-28 to the Highlanders in Dunedin.

NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has stuck true with the players who helped beat the Melbourne Rebels by naming an unchanged team to take on the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.

Wallabies and NSW Waratahs forward Dean Mumm has announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the 2017 season.

NSW Waratahs centre David Horwitz has dismissed talk that the Brumbies have an inside run to the finals as the battle to top the Australian conference heats up.

Israel Folau says he is enjoying his football again and believes the Waratahs have the skills to become the first Australian team this year to beat a New Zealand side when they head across the ditch later this week.

Wallabies star Kurtley Beale may have played his final match for Wasps after limping off with a hamstring injury in his side's 21-20 English premiership semi-final win against Leicester.

Coach says Waratah's 50-23 victory is excellent preparation for looming New Zealand trip.

Waratahs captain Michael Hooper has a simple plan to stop Melbourne Rebels back-rower Sean McMahon on Sunday at Allianz Stadium.

Melbourne Rebels still believe they can take some scalps heading into the backend of the season.

Sun-Herald rugby columnist Matt Burke sits down with Israel Folau to talk form and Super Rugby on the eve of the Waratahs' clash with the Melbourne Rebels.