Those pesky New Zealanders.

Just as Australian rugby fans start to get excited about the Reds' prospects of Super 15 glory, a glance at the draw confirms four of the Queenslanders' final seven games will be against Kiwi teams.

Two away games against three Australian opponents could prove tricky as well, although this Reds outfit is vastly superior to the exciting side that faded late last season.

No disrespect to the Saffers. As usual, they have wonderfully powerful teams and both the Stormers and the Sharks are capable of winning it all, as are the Bulls (again) if they can somehow burgle their way into the finals.

Yet, the SA teams are not the sharpest tools in the rugby shed - and that matters this season. They have trouble adapting to opponents tactics and tend to opt for brute strength and attritional options before trying to think their way out of the box. (The Sharks can be the exception here, but they still look apologetic when enterprise creeps into their game).

The best New Zealand sides, on the other hand, are highly adaptable. The Crusaders, for example, are masters of thinking on their feet.

The policing of the breakdown and set play are again deciding factors in Super rugby, but, whereby rulings were inconsistent from play to play last year, this season the refs are setting the tone early in games and usually sticking to it.

From match to match however, the interpretations have varied extensively, meaning teams have needed to be able to adapt -- drop one game plan for another -- a failing for the Saffers and sides like the Waratahs who have so much talent it's a sin but manage to play like invalids if things don't go their way. (See their legitimate barrage of ref complaints when injury forced Steve Walsh to hand over the whistle at half time against the Reds in Brisbane).

Of the other Australian teams: the Force and the Rebels simply don't have the personnel to be able to change things up at short notice while the skill-stacked Brumbies are a bloody disgrace, more concerned with their ‘three five-eighths' approach than doing anything to achieve victory. A coach (ONE coach) might help.

However the Reds, unexpectedly, and without question due to Ewen McKenzie's coaching, the decision making and swift service of Will Genia (after a slow start), Cooper, forwards leader James Horwill and the best performed flanker in Australia this season, Beau Robinson, have evolved into a bunch of rugger smarty pants.

Witness their successive victories over the Stormers, the Bulls and the Waratahs. All different, all uniquely beautiful, all deserved.

The Bulls game is what the Reds are all about, running the big fellas off their feet, playing ball in hand ‘and loving it.' Their youthful enthusiasm, high skill level and the presence of the devastating Digby Ioane (winger, not outside centre) is a joy for spectators.

Yet they have shown they are capable of being boring as batshit when required, matching the defence-obsessed Stormers and frustrating them with a careful kicking game. The gritty clash against NSW was to be expected and it was fitting that a moment of utter brilliance from Cooper was the difference. The Waratahs (as usual) complain no-one gives them credit for their ability to play percentage footy: trouble is they do it at inappropriate times -- playing wedding music when a bit of thrash metal is required.

The Reds, however, rock: changing tempo when the mojo demands it. Yet, they have conspicuous flaws which will provide their NZ opposition, in particular, reason for optimism.

Queensland's set play is still a work in progress and that will matter greatly in the rundown to the playoffs. A great pack such as the Crusaders will make them pay, although the biggest Kiwi threat may well be the always-thrilling Blues (particularly if the Cantabs' injury toll continues to mount). The Aucklanders have threats all over the park and are playing with an uncommon consistency.

The good news is the Reds will have home games against the two big guns: the Blues and Crusaders in May, with a bye round splitting the key fixtures.

Australia's only other vague hope is Chris Hickey's NSW. They are talented and gutsy, if a little blinkered. Luck has not been with them especially in terms of injuries, but it's hard to feel too sorry for them. They lost a lot of friends with that Week Five performance against the Cheetahs and the same issues that plagued them last season are recurring.

The terrible injury to Drew Mitchell in the Queensland match heaped further woe on the Waratahs, but the players they have missed the most are (a fully fit) Wycliff Palu and (even a partially fit) Tatafu Polota-Nau. Also the absence of Berrick Barnes - their designated playmaker - has been hard to cover.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will be wringing his hands about the injury worries at the Waratahs and the silly goings-on at the Brumbies.

The stoic Force have done their part for the national cause this season by playing James O'Connor closer to the action. His penalty kicking alone would make him a protected species if he'd made the mistake of being born and forced to play in the northern hemisphere, but he's shown rare poise and innovation so he clearly belongs here.

Not sure about slotting him at inside centre, however, where the trend is to the muscle men again. Playing Cooper at 10 and O'Connor at 12 means a lot of nasty defensive work for the tough little Force fella.

That midfield channel and the outside centre slot, surprisingly, might be Deans' biggest quandaries. Such a complicated spot is 13 - attackers coming from everywhere at full speed, often on the break, and oddly Australia doesn't have anybody excelling there after years of good depth.

All said though, it's been a productive few months for Australian rugby with the tight five work improving immeasurably and the inclusion of the Rebels an apparent success. Hopefully the Melbourne team will continue to surprise occasionally and rectify their awful defensive frailties, starting with their line speed.