i dont think NZ is in any position to preach.

there is still a big problem with drop-off of players despite the large numbers of schools players.

i think NZ is better off staying with the shc and tt comps for juniors every second year. if the junior teams want to do something in the wolds years then there is always the opportunity to have an internal tour as there was in 96 and 98.

i went through the junior program from 96-98 playing in the u20-u21 teams, never attended a worlds until i was in the senior team, but i still think i got a lot out of my time in the juniors... BUT my time in the juniors was relatively cheap, and im thankful it was.

all the good work going into the schools players etc in nz could still have useful outlets for far cheaper price if we just stuck to shc and tt. internal tours in even years could then benefit from using current elite players to help coach... its the pool of elite players where our coaches seem to be coming from and this lets them get some time with the younger players.

we could still have aussie invites to tours like that as they're cheap and close for states like tassie.

i think we should be having competitions but staying in our own back yard where it's cheap and we have resources, ie regional level teams that ould be better competition for our juniors anyway.

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it's more polite on the grating than on the subs bench