@Old School
I guess the AIC boys are at a theoretic advantage then
And , if any lad feels that they are short on some match play , they can always latch on in an U17 Comp and play "Season 1"
Personally , I don't place much stock in the assertion . It might mean something for a smaller percentage of boys who trial who could do with the extra match time in the lead up - who still may need some fine tuning . But let's face it - for this profile of kid who "needs" this at this stage of proceedings , well , the odds are that they're probably not going to be a rep player anyway ( at schoolboy level )
I think the broader reality is that the top end talent is what it is and is going to command the lion share of spots irrespective of whether they play an extra 5 or 6 games of Rugby or not
Let's remember most GPS Schools are preparing through Term 1 and are fully into it come mid March in terms of their physical preparation , and , Easter Camps and Tours - whether the Camps are about internal trials /scrimmages and the Easter Tours against other schoolboy teams
Then you take into account school trial season .....GPS Trials ....then QLD School Trials .........these young men are absolutely physically up for the challenge and are at no physical disadvantage to others who also have been preparing since January.
They may be say 5 or 6 games behind to others who have played Term 2 but maybe they are also fresher and without the niggles
Like I said though - it may be a factor in an extremely small sample size where playing an extra half a dozen games over a 2 month period is beneficial , however , talent is talent and I trust that more often that not selectors know it when they see it and it ends up as it should - or at least without the same level of interference and manipulation of agenda drivers at more junior representative levels that you see sticking out like dogs balls in club land.
Don't forget either the Schoolboys competition is always actually September and October , and so , theoretically benefit Term 3 playing boys more ( if you subscribe to the battle hardened - rhythm theory )
The final point I would make is that it is entirely possible , and perhaps highly likely , that there are greater resources ( public and private ) that are being channelled into the game in Victoria , ACT and WA . And money buys program excellence as it relates to facilities and coaching. Perhaps it is incumbent on the traditional hotbeds of Junior Rugby talent to pay closer attention to what is happening elsewhere and respond to the challenge
