The answer is simple: Reds are missing Braid

Beau is no Braid and no one should expect that level of play from a journeyman like Beau. Quick ball is definitely needed, but it is the job of the entire pack, not just the openside or back row more broadly - a lot of criticism on Horwill in this post - he is going to play exactly the same regardless of what number he has on his back (except for the scrum of course). Horwill is a hard nut, not a loose forward, he should always be selected in the 2nd row

Daniel Braid was a tireless work-horse at the ruck who suited the quick-ball needs of the Reds. The kiwi teams’ needs in flankers have been for big units who can counter-ruck, or conveniently slow/kill the ball. Horses for courses, as they say.

With the puzzling selections over the past three weeks, I HAVE to assume that there is or has been injuries amongst the Reds stock. That has to be the explanation because I seriously doubt that even without Braid, the other Reds have completely forgotten how to play. The only other explanation is ridiculous: McKenzie staging a long-con - make the Reds look clueless so they drop under the radar again, and then ramp it up at the business end of the season ... who knows?!?! All I hope is they snap out of their stupor, even if they continue to lose, because they looked just plain ordinary against the Waratahs. Back to the selections matter, I think Toua has played his last Super game - he was awful - and Holmes can't be too far away either - the guy is so effing lazy around the park. I have never been a fan of Davies either and don't understand why he gets talked up so much. Sure he's quick and scored that try against the Crusaders, but it has come amongst two seasons of soft attack and defence - am I the only one who sees this? I'm amazed that Morahan has only just come into the side now. The guy was a Sevens star, has been on two Wallaby tours, is quick, big and can cover fullback, wing and outside centre. In the forwards, if Schatz really is injured, I'd like to see Quirk at 6 and Higgers at 8. Quirk is good enough to test at 6 (better than Horwill!) but Robinson has to be 7. He's been the best so far and his energy and impact will smooth out Gill's debut from the bench - if he's needed. Go the Reds!

Unfair criticism of Hynes. He,s terrific when fit and healthy .

Braid is a big loss,particularly when he was a leader for a young group.They also lost Weeks,Byrnes and Hardman(most capped player for Qld). Let's face it though-The forwards have been soft! Credit to the other teams for giving to them-but I'd wager they expected a bit more from the Reds. Infact they have reminded me of the Wallabies Tri Nations of last year when they were being turned over at will and had no chance of getting the opposition ball.The backs then looked all at sea and had no penetration. Good on Mckenzie for owning up and taking some blame rather than ripping the players publicly,they'll be on notice though.

Beau Robinson is in the Daniel Braid 'mould' and could be the answer. He certainly was everywhere once he came on against the Tahs last Saturday and this coincided with the Reds best passage of play. The Reds need faster recycled ball and Robinson could be the one to get it.

I don't think they are missing Braid per se, but are lacking balance in there backrow. Too many large plodders, no quicker small men to get over the ball and get it clear for genia. That why there ball is so slow. This weeks backrow looks much better with Higgers @ 6 and Robinson 7. When Horwill is right they need to put him in the 2nd row and stop this craziness. He maybe be a quickish 4 or 5 but he a sluggish 6.

I see that Link must have read my earlier recommendations on the loose forwards and taken action accordingly (blush)

Its not technique with Quade Cooper. I have seen him tackle on occasions, it is his lack of ticker, He just doesn't want to get into the hard stuff. And Linc leaving him out of the defensive line is rubbish. Tell him at training, tackle or sit on the bench. Deans did and it sure improved him. At this level if you can't tackle you shouldn't be playing, full stop. It's not as if he is a little bloke he is 180+ and 90+ kg so he is comparable to most others that he is up against. With his lack of heart in the tackle area he is a passenger in the side and this is apparent now that he is being exposed by the slow ball.

What's with Quade? I saw him put a big ball-and-all hit on Kurtley. If that was any other defender's tackle, Kurtley would have been barrelled backwards. Because it was Quade, Kurtley barely flinched and managed to offload the ball overhead style to set up a try!

5 man bench, Bill, interesting....

Qld team has been announced ... Ben Lucas, Rod Davies, Will Chambers, Anthony Faingaa, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia (c), Leroy Houston, Beau Robinson, Scott Higginbotham, Van Humphries, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley (vc) Bench: James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Ed Quirk, Liam Gill, Mike Harris, Luke Morahan

agree with all this. team has been announced. Reds team (from fullback): Ben Lucas, Rod Davies, Will Chambers, Anthony Faingaa, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia (c), Leroy Houston, Beau Robinson, Scott Higginbotham, Van Humphries, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley (vc) Reserves: James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Ed Quirk, Liam Gill, Mike Harris, Luke Morahan Schatz isnt even in the seconds team announced so I can only assume he is injured.

Hmmmmm, This weekend against the Brumbies, I'd like to see Leroy Houston at number 8, and Higginbotham at 6 where he played last year. Keep Robinson at open side (7) and have Gil on the bench to replace him at the 40 - 60 minute mark. From what I heard about Gil, he played very well in the Queensland 2nd XV against the big islander sides. Also Radike Samo (assuming he's recovered from injury) should be on the bench to replace Humpries or Houston/Higgies. And yes, Ginea should stop poking his head up over the ruck/maul like a rabbit looking for the hunter & get on with his game.

It is too simplistic to blame our poor form on the departure of Braid but I am sure it is a factor as we seemed to be starved of ball. But I also think that the backs have been seriously out of form or badly coached. I wonder how much they miss Mooney or Emtage. Ioane's poor handing has come back to haunt him, Chambers and Genia are having no impact, Cooper has lost his magic, Hynes never had any magic (he just let Barnes tackle him), Faingia can tackle but not attack and Davies has disappointed. The injuries might give others a chance to shine. The best so far has been Robinson. He should be starting.

Horwill should never have been at 6, Big selection mistake. Humphries should have been on the bench and Simmonds and Horwill starting and rotate these three. Robinson is the 7 that should have started and IMO is the best of the signing for this season. Higgy should have been at 6 from the start and you have about 3 to pick your 8 from Shatz, Houston or Quirk. Gill should be brought into it gradually during the season he is only 18 and he has plenty of time on his hands to mature a bit first. Genia needs a rocket under him and he needs to get his head out of the clouds and play like a proper half back. Looking like a fairy penguin standing over the ruck is not what good half backs do. Get the ball to the flyhalf so he has some room to move. I don't see them improving much this week, I hope they do but it has been agonizing the last two weeks watching Mackenzie slooooowly come to grips with the selections. Lets hope he sees the light, but going on his past performances he will move slower than Deans at change. There is one hope that injury will force him to make the right selections

Yeah, Liam Gill is the answer most likely. The Reds were never going to be able to keep Braid for more than two years, and they only had to get Braid after Pocock refused to come back to the State that selected him in schoolboys rugby, only to see him poached away. Croft retired and laid out the Red carpet, but it all came to naught.

Agree re: the Reds confusion about how to play Hoy. I was surprised when McKenzie seemed dumbfounded after the Waratahs game that the game had moved on from last year, and what worked then doesn't work now. Talk about starting behind the eight ball this season...

Agree Thomsom is playing outstandingly - but is doing so from blindslide .. second man is still proving to be advantage as McCaw demonstrated last season by adapting his play ... Braid's influence at the Reds wasn't just onfield - it was well reported that his training ethic rubbed off on those around him and he pushed the players to do more - perhaps the Reds have regressed back to their old habits now he's departed

...and the fact that his two year stint was up (ARU stipulation). From what I understand, the Reds did request an extension but it was denied. Quirk seems more like a natural blindside to me. I don't think McKenzie has anything to lose by trying one of his other options there, Liam Gill perhaps.