NSW Waratahs recorded a comprehensive 30-6 victory over Queensland

[Hoolly Doolly]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...-1226012563956


Are Queensland overated?
Have they underestimated Daniel Braids contribution to the pack?
My opinion is once they have the pack sorted then the issue with Cooper and genia will be resolved as well.

[Batto]

Nice to see Rod Davies get a good clattering !

[James]

Have we overestimated McKenzie as a coach? With the backline the Reds have, I don't think they should play Horwill at 6.

[JediKnight]

The Reds performance yesterday makes the Force's loss last week look even more like 4 points wasted.
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[Hoolly Doolly]

Yep I agree Horwill into the 2nd row but it didnt look good when he came off with a bung leg again.
Funny to see after the article on Quirk where he stated he loved bashing people and then seeing him pummelled to near death 2 weeks in a row.Beau Robinson has looked good the times he's been on and is a genuine openside flanker tho he doesnt look as mobile as he did with the tahds. Higgenbotham and especially hustoun need to lift their games as far as work rate at the breakdown.
Id also move digby to 13 and give chambers a bit of time on the wing but that winger off the bench with jet feet, would be interested to see more of what he can do.

[BeeJay]

I'm not surprised Queensland are going the way they are. I think McKenzie is a conservative coach at heart, as shown by his years at the Tahs. In his first year, he probably said - just go for it, we have nothing to lose - but now has reverted to his true (prop) self.

Cooper is only ever any good with his team going forward, or when the game is totally unstructured. I think Giteau, Barnes and O'Connor have played better than him in the opening rounds.

NSW are really looking the goods. In defense and attack, and a lot of players are in superb form. Why the hell did Mitchell never play like that for us?

[tic]

Interesting thoughts.

My 2 cents. I think it is clear after two weeks that last years template is gone. The refs are not strictly enforcing the roll away policy and they are allowing contest at the breakdown.

The Reds now have the message. It has cost them one loss.

I think that there is the cattle to fix the problem and recalibrate the game plan against teams that are stronger at the breakdown (such as Force and Waratahs).

Part of that tweaking requires more speed. It is clear that Horwill must go back to Lock and that Robinson, Higginbotham and Gill feature more prominantly.

I do believe that Link has made a miscalculation - he has admitted that, and that means that they are 50% of the way to resolving it. I also believe that as the game is moving into a forward battle this year, he is the best man for the job at the Reds.

Simply put, these past two weeks the Reds forwards have been too slow, too reactive, lacking in aggression and not tackling hard enough. Most of these thing can be fixed with a change in emphasis, personel and attitude.

Here's hoping.