Boys,
Thicker skins please and remember this is a bastion for free speech and opinion, therefor I'll share mine.
While in no way do i denegrate the effort and result of the win for AUS schools last week, but I think it has managed to cloak the problems that led to the fretting of the previous 3 results for the schools teams.
Comments such as this years team not being a vintage one are foolish to make in the first place as rarely do more than a handfull of players from each year go on to greatness at senior levels.
What's more important is identifying and then rectifying some of the inherant problems with this particular pathway. Points I'd like to see addressed are;
1. As the the results of matches between the different associations are not part of a competition or for perpetual trophies then each association should forward 2 squad lists that are then pooled and split into sides named after something of potential importance (sponsors, past wallaby captains, GPS headmasters (naughty), etc).
GPS x 2
CAS x 2
ISA x 2
CHS x 2 (metropolitan only)
Country X 2 (include those who would normally be lost to CHS)
CCC x 1
ACIES x 1
12 teams that could play as 4 x groups of 3 (2 x games) followed by semi's and finals as determined by group placings (2 more games).
Allow a weeks training then play the games over a 2 week period.
Why I hear you ask. To make selections based on performance in surroundings closer to what will be experienced at the next level and to give talented players a greater chance to show potential on an even playing field. Even great players find it hard to look good if their team is substantially weaker than the opposition and they spend all game regrouping behind the posts and equally lesser players can benefit riding on the talents of others in stronger sides which is then exposed at the next level.
2. Open age teams are for yr 11 & 12 boys only. Let the precoscious talents from below find their feet and develop before having their shot at glory and respect the talents of those above. All you achieve by playing kids above their age is to deny the older boys their chance which lessens the pools of senior talent.
3. Select players for higher honours in the position they trialled at. High level representative sides are not for taking a punt, players must have proved themselves in a position to be given the recognition. Anybody who has coached at a reasonable level knows that there are different skills required to play even left or right wing let alone 1 & 3 or 6,7 and 8 or 10,12 & 15.
4. Select on foundation skills for each position alongside a players performance, (fitness, strength, speed, body proportion/type and playing skills- kicking etc)not just on the back of one good half of rugby.
Yes, I know that there have been young prodigies who have bucked the trend and had success playing as younger players and changing positions (of which most work and continuing success was at senior club level first) but these are the rarity not the usual.
Got to go as some pigs just flew over the fairies in the back garden.
