Air Bender you are incorrect regarding flight times being shorter on V Aus via Abu Dhabi. The great circle distance via Singapore is less then via Abu Dhabi.
Rome:
SYD-AUH-ROM 10181nm
SYD-SIN-ROM 10144nm
London:
SYD-AUH-LHR 10924nm
SYD-SIN-LHR 10624nm
Southern europe flt times are pretty equal but to Northern Europem flights via Singapore would be 30-40 mins shorter.