One cannot doubt that the Australian Conference always serves up a surprise or two every season, a few years ago there was that electric championship season in Queensland, and lately the Brumbies have transformed into one of the leading outfits.

This year the centre of excitement is way out west, with the Force on the verge of a historic maiden final’s appearance, there is a stirring in Sydney while the Reds are revisiting days they thought they had left behind.

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Australia’s leading chance need to be wary of African connection

The Brumbies victory over the top of the table Sharks could be a mixed victory for the men from ACT, for while they defeated a fellow contender, they showed how reliant they can be on South African blueprint of kick pressure tactics.

With a tour to the Republic to come, the Brumbies will need to ensure they don’t drift dramatically towards this style – a big reason for their success in 2014 has been from the obvious addition of a Larkham-esque style running game.

The Bulls are evidence that a percentage style strategy can win a Super Rugby title, but most winners have had deadly attacking ability and a developed skill of scoring tries.

One thing history supports is clear, previous Brumbies teams that have won the tournament haven’t done it with a one-dimensional game.

The Force will not want to turn to the dark side

The Western Australians continue to prove their transformation, with seven wins in ten matches they are roughly 16-17 competition points – with six games to play – away from near assured top six rights.

However almost every season a side comes from no-where to make a positive early/mid-season impression.

And the same year potentially that same franchise fades away as the intensity of matches rises with each passing week.

The Force so far have proven one definite, they are among the best defensive sides, conceding just 18 tries (equal second best in the comp).

We will quickly point out that few championships in Super Rugby are won off tackling alone, but it is always a vital component of such success.

Michael Foley’s 2014 hybrid of the Force might not wrack up the points, but that passionate blue wall is almost impossible to breach.

Now is not the time for Red faces

It is difficult to condemn the 2011 champions when looking at how strong Super Rugby’s field is this year.

One remembers former coach Ewen McKenzie lamenting after that title win at how teams had worked overtime, and successfully at that, in shutting down a Reds attack that a few years ago was irresistible.

It wouldn’t be far from the truth that the likes of Will Genia and Quade Cooper have been comprehensively studied to the point where teams base their systems around shutting such players down.

Even under the former Wallabies coach, Queensland slowly shifted tactically, a big reason why the flamboyance is not as common as it was in the team’s heyday.

No side would have resisted the Crusaders complete game in the second half.

What happens next will be decided in the corridors of Ballymore, but there will be some changes, the first according to media rumour that James O’Connor could be enticed to Brisbane.

Waratahs under the radar?

It is amazing what a week can do, not just for the fact that the men from New South Wales were the only Round 13 bye, but the bumper weekend that has just passed will result in the Waratahs quietly resuming their campaign.

The ‘Jake White’ return, the Reds loss, the Force’s tour win, there is plenty of conversation to distract from the fact that despite lack of activity – Michael Cheika’s troops are only one competition point out of the top six.

If the team is only as good as their last game, that five-try 39-30 win against the potent Hurricanes needs to be repeated against the Lions this weekend.

The Waratahs will be chasing just their second back-to-back win of the year.

McKenzie to again earn his pay

One of the hallmarks of the McKenzie era was one of the best runs against New Zealand Super Rugby teams of any Australian or South African franchise coach.

The Wallabies, with 18 losses from their last 20 matches against the All Blacks, look to be up against another big assignment.

To defeat the World Champions, or even better wrest the Bledisloe Cup off New Zealand, would be a shot in the arm to Australian Rugby as significant as lifting the Webb Ellis trophy itself.

The Kiwi conference surge though highlights what a challenge the Wallabies will have to overcome, but while man for man New Zealand teams might have had the recent edge – the best 15 from each country are a closer match.

At least McKenzie and supporters of the green and gold will hope that is the case despite recent results.