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The Queensland Reds will not win the 2011 Super Rugby tournament. However, as the 2010 excitement machine and most improved Australian province, despite a heavy injury toll to key players such as Horwill and Ioane, they will cause the most headaches for opposition sides in 2011 if they can evolve further.
I believe that they will evolve. The leadership group, Horwill and Genia, are quality leaders. The playing squad is young and will have benefited from a stellar year. Several tyros, such as Simmons and Chambers, have been blooded, and found to be competitive at this level.
McKenzie has demonstrated that he is a much improved coach, learning from the Waratahs and Stade experiences. His regular appearances on RuggaMatrix clearly indicate that he is an outstanding individual and a very thoughtful and knowledgeable rugby coach.
He is clearly reveling in the uncluttered environment that was the close to insolvent Queensland Reds organisation. Less can be more.
The Reds are heading in the right direction. Fifth place in 2010, and just two points behind the Crusaders, was an excellent effort, particularly with so many injuries.
McKenzie just needs to keep it going; wind up the youngsters, give them some structure, probably similar to the Deans approach they have been in for the past seven months, and watch them go.
They are weak, or at least inexperienced, in the backrow, particularly at 7. Braid left a big hole. This might give Gill an early chance to join the starting team.
The Reds biggest advantage is that their playing ethos and strategy is clearly defined and fully supported by the player group. They enjoy playing it.
Their tight five are strong. Their backline is awesome, has attackers in every position and in Genia and Cooper, the conductors to bring it together.
The Reds have benefited the most from Robbie Deans youth policy and the burgeoning International Sevens program. The Reds now have a very good crop of youngsters across the 22. They include Daley, Slipper, Faingaa, Simmons, Higginbotham, Cooper, Davies, Ioane and Chambers.
The bench offers Hanson, Gill, Lucas, Shipperley and Morahan.
Ewen McKenzie has matured as a coach, embraced the running, possession based game, and is now the most experienced Super rugby coach in Australia in the current era, until the return of McQueen.
Their starting 22 have a Wallabies flavour about it. 13 of the 15 and 22 are immediate selections. The bench is young, excluding Humphries and Holmes, but experienced. The squad:
1. Daley (immediate selection),
2. Faingaa (immediate selection),
3. Slipper (immediate selection),
4. Horwill (immediate selection),
5. Simmons (immediate selection),
6. Higginbotham (immediate selection),
7. Tomiki,
8. Houston,
9. Genia (immediate selection),
10. Cooper (immediate selection),
11. Davies (immediate selection),
12. Faingaa (immediate selection),
13. Chambers (immediate selection),
14. Ioane (immediate selection),
15. Hynes (immediate selection),
16. Hanson,
17. Holmes,
18. Humphries,
19. Gill,
20. Lucas,
21. Shipperley,
22. Morahan.
I will enjoy watching the Reds play this season.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.