Australian Schoolboys selector and ARU High Performance manager Adrian Thompson has defended the team he, coach Pat Langtry and selector Andrew Maloney have picked to play matches against New Zealand and Fiji Schools later this year. In one of the tightest Australian Schools Championships in history, ACT defeated QLD II to claim their first national title since 1988. Despite remaining undefeated all week, just two ACT players were selected in the Australian Schoolboys side, while 11 NSW players were picked despite both their sides missing the final. “There is always commentary about selections, particularly at schoolboy level but there are a number of things I think people need to remember,” Thompson said. “The Australian Schools Championships are run for two reasons. To crown a national champion and to select two Australian sides but the two don’t necessarily go hand in hand. “There aren’t head to head clashes, every team doesn’t play one another and there