The start of the 2013 (whoops) season is going to be a very hard one for the Reds.
The first game is against the Brumbies, in Brumbies land. Jake White, a world cup winning coach and twice IRB coach of the year, has done an amazing job on this team in his commencing year and has proved he is a top coach. The Brumbies are frustrated on two counts - their failure to make the finals by losing to the Blues, and the lack of representation in the Wallabies. So they will have plenty of motivation.
The second game is against the Waratahs at Suncorp fortress. They are looking for inspiration in their new coach, Cheika, who took Leinster to winners of the Heineken Cup. The Waratahs in the recent Wallabies'Spring Tour were virtually the forward pack, Sharpie & Ben Alexander being the notable exceptions. Folau on the wing for the last 20 minutes could be their X factor.
The Reds are going to need to have their best side up & running. Those first two games could be season defining. 'Link' McKenzie is going to need all his guile & cunning.
Personally, I am of the opinion the Brumbies game will be the harder to win of the two.