This article is the 2nd of the series and continues the 3-part series analysing the fortunes so far and what could happen in the future with but several rounds of 2014 Super Rugby remaining.

It is time to look at the rising Australian Conference.

SUMMARY: With 3 teams in the top 6, Wallabies supporters have plenty of reasons to feel confident, the Brumbies and Waratahs are looking like contenders while the Force are arguably the fairy-tale of the campaign.

The Rebels have shown plenty of starch, even if there are few worried brows in Queensland of late.

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Brumbies
30 competition points, 2nd overall, 1st in Australia

STORY SO FAR: The Brumbies are humming and are among the strongest challengers so far this season. Any fears that Jake White’s departure might have affected the side hasn’t eventuated, indeed if anything the team looks a more complete outfit this year. The only real negative for a side with obvious high standards will be their blips to the Reds and Rebels and just 2 bonus points accrued.

CRYSTAL BALL: Coming off one of their heaviest defeats in years, the Crusaders defeat, their 3rd in 2014, will ensure that they keep their feet on the ground. With the Sharks incoming before a trip to South Africa, the next 3 weeks will be a stern examination for a side looking well equipped to bring a 3rd trophy to Canberra.

SQUAD WATCH: Much has been made with how the Brumbies international representation has grown in the last 2 years, but so far it looks like many of those players are taking their games to another level. One suspects the bulk of the Wallabies backline will be from Australia’s capital, while the likes of Stephen Moore and Ben Mowen are in strong form, even if a question was raised with how the Crusaders bossed them up front last weekend.

TITLE CHANCE OR DAMAGE TEAM: The Brumbies are blue chip contenders for the crown, and if they maintain their top 2 position they will be difficult to beat if they host a final.

Western Force
27 competition points, 5th overall, 3rd in Australia

STORY SO FAR: The Force are having the season of their life, on the verge of a historic maiden final’s appearance and playing with an emotional style that has them on a remarkable run with 6 wins from their last 7. Led by Matt Hodgson, a likely international this year, the added South African muscle is having an effect, while coach Michael Foley is beginning to reap the rewards of his pack playing with a style befitting the former hooker.

CRYSTAL BALL: Super Rugby isn’t always very accommodating for romantics, and the Force wouldn’t be the 1st team to trip up in the late stages of the campaign after such a solid opening. A trip to South Africa and away matches to the Crusaders and Brumbies constitute a tough run home, even if there are 3 more matches to be played in front of a vibrant sea of blue.

SQUAD WATCH: Nick Cummins has become the cheerful and willing poster boy for a team that might not play the most polished rugby or have the firepower of other outfits, but try telling that to attacking teams that have found a very committed and calm Force defensive wall. Hodgson is arguably the best tackler in Super Rugby, while plenty of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Sias Ebersohn and Alby Mathewson as the stakes rise.

TITLE CHANCE OR DAMAGE TEAM: Results indicate that the Force are in with a shot to claim the title, but Super Rugby throughout the years hasn’t been won by such outfits, often championship winning teams have to spend a year or 2 building towards such elusive success. Or will the fairy-tale be complete?

Melbourne Rebels
17 competition points, 11th overall, 4th in Australia

STORY SO FAR: Results do not tell the full story of a mini-revival in Melbourne this year, 3 wins, including the illustrious scalps of the Brumbies and Force, have come with plenty of valiant defeats.  4 Losing bonus points – against the Crusaders, Highlanders, Chiefs and Sharks – speak of a competitive outfit, and their stats make for pleasant reading. Their big improvement has been on defence, they have conceded half the tries they had at this stage last year.

CRYSTAL BALL: Technically out of final’s calculations, a storming finish by the Rebels, 1 of 4 teams still to play 7 matches, could see them sneak in although they would have to win the bulk of the remaining games and hope for a late season fade by the leading Australian rivals.  3 Of their next 5 matches are at home but the Rebels are the final team to tour the Republic.

SQUAD WATCH: Captain Scott Higginbotham is a follow-me-to-the-trenches style of player which suits the team’s style, which is often disruptive to their opposition. Tamati Ellison has added plenty of starch to the backline while the likes of Jason Woodward ensures that the Rebels have attacking weapons out wide.

TITLE CHANCE OR DAMAGE TEAM: With 10 teams above them, the Rebels are probably not a genuine threat to the title, but they will cause some issues for sides in the last few weeks. They have looked far too committed a side to fold at this period of the campaign and will target a few more victories.

Reds
16 competition points, 13th overall, 5th in Australia 

STORY SO FAR: For a team with 3 straight Super Rugby Finals Series appearances stretching back to the 2011 title, this campaign represents a considerable fall from grace – not since 2009 have the Reds dwelled this far down the competition table. Without a victory since March, and with 2 losses in front of 1 of the biggest fan bases in the competition, the Queenslanders are in something of a rut.

CRYSTAL BALL: The Reds will be the 1st to admit they are struggling, but they have the best upcoming stretch of any team, 3 straight home games with a bye in between, is ample opportunity for a turnaround in fortunes. 2 Of their next 3 however are against New Zealand teams, what was an exceptional record against such opposition has become tarnished with 3 straight defeats to Kiwi sides.

SQUAD WATCH: Will Genia seems to be showing some glimpses of his undoubtable class, but the reality is that a powerful squad on paper is struggling to hit top gear. Quade Cooper is arguably sitting deeper in the pocket than ever before, while James Horwill hasn’t been able to impose himself physically, as we have become used to. A late season rediscovery of form from some class players will be crucial for a strong finish.

TITLE CHANCE OR DAMAGE TEAM: Despite 4 home matches in their last 6, the Reds are essentially below the qualifying line, and bar a bunch of wins and dramatic form reversal from the top teams, the Reds will not be celebrating their 7th final’s appearance. To restore pride, a series of giant slayings would be the ideal tonic.

Waratahs
29 competition points, 4th overall, 2nd in Australia

STORY SO FAR: The men from New South Wales are probably the biggest anomaly of the top 6, they haven’t won 2 games in a row since their opening fortnight, while their win against the Hurricanes was perhaps just their 2nd major scalp in 2014. Unbeaten in Sydney, they have lost 4 of 5 on the road, but there is enough evidence that this team could achieve 1 of the final frontiers for Australian Rugby.

CRYSTAL BALL: While this team looks arguably the most well equipped Waratahs division we have ever seen in Super Rugby, there have been plenty of powerful NSW sides that haven’t been able to go all the way. If their Hurricanes victory was their high water mark and they are able to reproduce that sort of form towards the back end, then who knows what could happen. But with 3 matches on the road to come, including a visit to Hamilton, a potential champion needs to win in foreign beds.

SQUAD WATCH: The biggest change to the Waratahs has been a noticeable shift away from the reliance of Israel Folau as teams are clearly working overtime to shut down Super Rugby’s leading try scorer. A mammoth pack is well led by the peerless Michael Hooper and the towering Dave Dennis, while the rear guard has Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale’s growing contributions to thank for an increasing appetite for running rugby.

TITLE CHANCE OR DAMAGE TEAM: The Waratahs have shown that at their peak they can beat any team and while they have a few questions which still needs answering, luckily for the coaching team they are relatively obvious – winning away and beating more of the best sides will be the next challenge for a side that looked to have a squad and offensive arsenal as good as any other.