Veteran Waratahs forward Dave Dennis said it would be good news for Australian rugby if Kurtley Beale's multi-million dollar deal with English club Wasps fell through.
Beale had been expected to sign a $2.7 million, two-year contract with Wasps but doubts have been raised about the deal following speculation the club was renewing talks with Toulon and Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny.
There was a suggestion Wasps may have cooled on Beale after the ARU indicated it would not release him until   December and that Wallabies coach Michael Cheika would continue to select him under the so-called Giteau Law. 
However, other sources told The Australian yesterday that Beale still intended to join Wasps.
The intrigue around Beale heightened when the Waratahs withdrew him from a media session yesterday.
"I know how much he (Beale) is respected here at the club, and from a national point of view as well he is highly respected among the players, the staff and the fans, I imagine," Dennis said.
"I'm not too sure where that's at. I know there is an opportunity for him but if that falls through, it's a pretty good result for Australian rugby if he stays.
"I don't know a lot of details about it. I know there is something there. I haven't spoken to him about it. It's probably a little bit frustrating for Kurtley that it has taken so long to sort out whether he is going or not.
"If you look at the way he is playing footy, it doesn't seem to be affecting him because he has been really good for us." The Waratahs will be looking to Beale to continue his scintillating form when they play the Bulls in a must-win game in Sydney tomorrow night. Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has named an unchanged team following their 21-6 win against the Cheetahs.
"It's always nice. I think it's the first game this year, at least the starting XV," Dennis said. "Early on Daryl was trying to find that perfect combination. You probably never will. But the team that is playing this week has been a bit more consistent over the last couple of weeks, and that's shown in three relatively good wins, albeit there is still a lot of work to do." With consecutive wins against the Western Force, Stormers and Cheetahs, Dennis said his team had momentum moving into the serious end of the season. The Waratahs are equal with the Brumbies on 25 competition points on the Australian conference table but have a game in hand, although four of their remaining six games are against New Zealand opposition.
"If we win on Saturday we will be where we want to be," Dennis said. "Only a month ago we were scrapping and fighting for points. Now we are pretty much in control of what happens in the next six games.
"That's a nice position to be in, but it means nothing. We have to keep working hard.
"We are conscious of the fact we have three really tough games before the (  June) break, starting with the Bulls this week. They are a very good team. Apart from their blemish last week in Canberra they have been pretty dominant over the Australian teams. It's a -really good challenge for us.
"They will want to take a few more points in Australasia before getting on the plane. They are a very good team, nice and physical, their centres run hard." Dennis said the Waratahs forwards would focus on delivering quality lineout ball to their potent backline against the Bulls.REBELS CLOSE ON FLYER P35