A thousand apologies. You are absolutely right - this is how a stupid thread of misnomers gets started. I'll edit my post. I meant the Pathways eight. We had been talking exclusively of trials results for so long that I forgot my terminology.
Strange to me how crews are selected. Where is that cracker Youth VIII who you rightly pointed out did so bloody well at nationals? Why were they not selected as an VIII for August?
In theory, the fastest SB 8+s in Australia like Shore, Scotch, MGS or last year Nudgee. All of them are capable of doing the cut off time of 5:51.7 in neutral conditions. Scotch did it in 2013, sponsored by one family. Cost is one thing, other commitments another, let alone a GPS Schools approval to send the kids.
In general it's often their HSC year and trials are on before they leave o/s and exams start the week when they are coming back. Now, get a family to spend a fortune on elite school education and in the months before the final exam they go and represent AUS. They will often say, that they can row at Uni and beyond as much as they like.
The kids who are choosing to go usually making their minds up early, planning their academic schedules, care less than others or hope the 5 extra ATAR points for being an AUS rep help compensating.
I agree with long versus short term approach and keeping crews small and competitive is the key. Working RA's system is another, the U19 M8+ of 5:51 is achievable, but who has seen a U19 pair going 6:44 or a 4- 6:11?