Actually you are trying to suggest something or you wouldn't have posted this. It's not the Reds fault the Aus conference was the weakest but as I pointed out, the differences weren't as great as the table suggests. Based on their peformance, I dont think the result would have been any different had the Reds been in the NZ or SA conference. They were the best team and there was ample opportunity for other teams to show otherwise. I remember all the naysayers predicting the Crusaders would 'flog those pretender Reds' in the final and the true colours would be shown. AND there was a kiwi ref too

Its a shame..it would be a cracker of a game and have the flavour of one hemisphere vs the other.