Women's Rugby Is Booming Worldwide. Why Not In South Africa? | Women's Rugby

Welcome back we're back again. Yeah we are. Yeah we are. Okay let's jump right into it. Let's not waste any time.

We have a lot to talk about today. A lot of exciting things to talk about. So let's go firstly Under 20 Women's Week. Okay yes. So the Under 20 Women's Week happened a back now I think it's it's a great initiative every year we see this tournament taking place and you can see that there are girls being selected being pulled up from the under 20s into the national setup it's such a good feeder for our senior ladies however I think there still needs to be more attention more emphasis put on this tournament I think the word needs to be put out there more you know the people need to support it more the same as with the men you see the hype around the 20s that is what we still need to push for a little bit i think yes i think it starts with a naming sponsor for the tournament yes the tournament has really been growing um sr rugby has been investing a lot of money a lot of attention to this tournament because we now see how important it is for the senior setup but now we just need sponsors to jump on board and yeah the quality is already there um the quality from last year to this year it really amazed me a lot to see the talent that we have and it excites me to know that these girls are up and coming so talking about that uh give me a list of your five top players that you spotted that this week that really excites you that that yeah that got you going some when you watch some some names that i think we should be looking out for definitely ladies that i think have potential not just because i'm a fly off but you know it is a position that sticks out to me firstly ep's number 10 um julina's incredible um i think she's got the flesh she's got the speed um you can see her game knowledge is so good and then she also has a boot to back it yeah which is the perfect foundation that you need for number 10 but also then looking at broolans number 10 um haley haley also very young still not like we'll say but she's got so much potential and you can see the the way that she drives the game you know controls her forwards those kind of things again a solid foundation and then she also again has that natural kicking ability which is something that's it's so difficult for our ladies to master because we haven't been doing it for so long so to be able to see these young girls being able to kick so well already at that age is incredible you know and i mean uh your first two already being tens doesn't that excite you we've been wanting new tends to come in it's a very difficult position to slot in you're the captain of the ship you're driving there's a lot of responsibility so having your first two being tens doesn't that excite you for the future no definitely like you say we've we've had a struggle getting you know new teams into the system so to see these girls so young so hungry you know playing with the passion that they're playing with it it's just it makes me excited and i hope that i am still in the system when these girls eventually get pulled up just so that i can you know give them my little two cents help guide them in the right way that's important especially when you're so young it's such an unknown territory i remember myself when i just started you feel so alone you feel so unsure so scared and the fly-off position is not the place for that you need confidence you need to voice your opinions that is how it is on the field yeah okay next up next up got two speeches okay one one from Boerlein, one from Lyons, Tereska Kubeiko from Boerlein and Sipumilele Mdlalosa from Lyons.

Speed, speed, speed, natural ballers, great finishes. What can I say? When you see them running with the ball, you just know there's going to be tri-sport. You just know it. And then lastly, obviously you need to give a special mention to the Bulls ladies in there as well, Itumileng Malala Malala yeah she plays lock for the bulls and 20 bulls ladies and her work ethic on the field you can see the work rate that she has her ball carrier she's such a strong aggressive ball carrier and then making dominant hits as well I mean to see that is a lock's job yes that is what they have to do so to see her stepping onto that field owning her position being so dominant it's incredible.

I love that. Throw one forward in there. Okay. I also have a list and I'm checking it twice. No, I'm not saying it's a close.

But okay, for me, who really stood out and has to get the first mention, it's also a fly half. Of course. Nua Levy from Western Province. I can't say enough words about this kid. I've worked with her and in six months, she's grown so much as a rugby player she comes from touch so she already had the skills foundation is yes she has the skills you've got the vision that is what touch gives you vision is what i really want to say like she has the vision she reads the game before it happens and that's what you want from a 10 uh has an incredible kicking boot and the one thing that really stood out for me in this week is she doesn't crack under pressure that's amazing there was a lot of pressure on the Western Province team to perform.

They were dominant right through the week. And where pressure came in the finals, didn't crack under pressure. Cool, calm, collected. Really, you have to hold on to that jersey because she's coming. She's amazing.

That's exciting. Next up, I have a bunch of forwards because I love the forwards. Janelisa Pleikis, also from Western Province. Man, I call her the silent assassin. That girl doesn't say a word.

If you meet her off-field, she's so soft-spoken, so relaxed but when she gets onto that field she's carrying she's tackling she's an 80 minute player for a lock like she takes the line out she takes control in the line out she's just really particular about her job and i love that when you meet her you won't say this is a rugby player but when she steps onto that field she amazes me every single time then another forward my home girl vanessa khabadi is a hooker for limpopa blue balls yeah man first game scored a hat trick second game scored a hat trick she loves scoring tries but she also doesn't mind to do the the hard stuff you know the forwards the hard work she carries she tackles she gets up she mauls she's always looking for work loved her loved everything about her um and then a little center not little nothing about as little astra destiny pretorius from sharks great player i think there's so much room for growth i think she's still a bit new to the game but you can see she's not scared not scared to carry or tackle that's what you want from your centers isn't it definitely and then she's actually an mma fighter hey so pushed her from there she's still fighting so that gives her that bit of a dog that you want in the center and then lastly have to stay loyal to my position scrum off wondering where the scrummies are at best for last danica papers yeah my goodness what What an all-round good player. She's a physical nine. She will tackle. She will carry the ball when it's sniped. See the space.

She can kick amazing passes. And I think her connection with Noah Levy is really what gives those two the edge. Yeah. Like they have that special thing. And she's not afraid to do all of the work for her team.

She drives them everything you want in a nine. Yeah. Really everything. And I think that goes to show like that connection between your nine and your ten. Oh, man.

It's so easy to look good in either position if the other one knows what you're thinking, knows what you're planning, knows what you're looking for. It's easy then. You can easily look bad playing in fly-off position if your nine isn't sure of what the game plan or how you're thinking or how you play, those kind of things. So that just shows right there. That connection between them, they've obviously played together for a while now.

They know each other. They know, you know, without even having to make a call, they know what's coming. That's the thing, being on that same wavelength. I see what you see, you see what I see, and we know how to go, how we're going to get there, what we're going to do. So now, under 20 Women's Week, really, I think I smiled the whole week through.

The talent is amazing. The heart that the girls show has really been amazing. And now we're just calling for growth of this tournament. Like, give the girls what they deserve, man. No, definitely.

I mean, you were commentating the whole week, you know, really involved in women's rugby in all aspects, let's be honest. The coaching, the commentary. whenever there's a tournament especially with the young girls you're always there but I must say now Western Province has won it two years in a row why last year they won it Province played in the finals they played the Bulls Daisies in the finals with us with the Women's Super League now this year Western Province won again but they didn't manage to make a final the same can be said for our Bulls team We, the Bulls, Daisies have been four times champions, but if you look at our under 20 system, it's lacking immensely. I think it's something that we should be concerned of. Because if the greatest juniors, where are they going firstly when they come to senior level?

Are they staying within the system? Are they going somewhere else? Is the Bulls investing enough in the junior system? Or are we just relying on the talent that we have? I think that's a very, it's kind of a controversial topic, but it is something that needs to be mentioned is the Western province has been dominant at all junior levels, under 16, under 18s, under 20s.

And now we're seeing the senior side struggle. Why is this? I think they're struggling to retain their talent. So the talent goes to the Bulls because there's contracts on offer. And how can you say no to that?

professional system, training every single day, having medical staff, all of that. So I think it's the retention of talent. I mean, we see EP in the under 20s finals this year, once again, but the senior system is struggling. Why? We can't retain that talent.

None of the unions can compete if they don't give out contracts. You know what I mean? So it's just that retention of talent. And at this stage it only the Bulls Bulland is trying to get in there and we see that it pays off because they went to the finals Poland is starting to give contracts or give something at least So it all of the provinces having to buy in to be able to keep this talent And I think the bulls mustn't get complacent knowing that we have the money to buy we want. That is not the point.

That is not how we're going to grow women's rugby. We need to invest in the girls that are here by us that are working so hard to try and get into a Daisy's jersey. All of those girls. and use the daisies to to get a better junior system exactly use the season players they want to coach they want to get involved in the younger um generation they want to get in there and share their knowledge so use them and i mean the tournament's at a time where we're all off exactly we've got the time everyone like you say is willing to help and can you imagine as a young girl if a star like a ceasor comes to you and tells you just one thing about how to steal a ball yes That girl is going to suck it up like a sponge because it's not just the coach saying it. It's Cecil.

I love that. Telling her how to do this. Yes, I love that. I love how passionate we get about the youngsters. But that's how much the game has grown and it's only going to keep growing.

We have to talk about them. We have to give them some props because they are the next up and coming things. Now moving international. Also very exciting. guinness women's six nations has been on a roll it's um really great quality right it is great quality rugby you know what's amazing is in women's rugby the fact that the records are still being broken after the world cup the momentum going into the six nations is incredible i mean 77 000 people in twickenham for the england versus ireland game like that is amazing they keep showing up they just keep showing up yeah that and it's been all around i mean um ireland's playing in the aviva stadium exactly giving us home support that they've had this season their home support it's like something has changed in them i must say also they have a new coach uh scott bermond yes i think whatever he's doing together with his coaching and the home support that ireland is getting special is really firing up that team they are playing so well so physical it's really exciting to watch them i just love the crowds man i love how any everyone is getting invested you see the young girls you see the young boys at the matches people are showing up they're giving the women the biggest stages they're playing at the avivas they're playing at the murray field they're playing at the big stages tweaking them yeah um that's what we've been wanting exactly and you give us the big stage we fill it now you can't say anything exactly okay so i'm gonna i'm gonna start this off with my top five players that's been standing out for me over this guinness women's six nations my number one and this is someone that uh has been a foe of mine okay but i think as a coach you pick her and then you select the rest of your team around her okay to be really honest okay this 36 year old marley packer i'm going to agree with you she's also on my list she is on my list yeah amazing her leadership style i think like you say you pick her and you build a team around her she can lead i think she can lead anything just the way she carries herself the way she plays a try scoring machine as well yep and that's incredible and i'm I'm glad that you mentioned her age as well because people have this perception that especially women's rugby, it's not the same as men.

We do not retire as young as the men retire. So it's absolutely incredible. The fact that she's playing forward, she's in there working, she's the workhorse doing the dirty work. It's amazing. So she's second highest try scorer in England history with 59 tries.

And she has 115 caps for England. Like she's really been so committed to this team, to the growth of this team, to leading this team. So although she's my foe, I think she's a phenomenal rugby player. You have to mention her. I agree with you.

Second, Francesca Scorbini from Italy. I think she really showed up in the England game. She was leading from the front, scored two tries against England. Man, that's no easy job. And can we talk about the fact that Italy put 33 against England, their highest score against England ever, which again shows the growth.

Yes. I mean, we did beat Italy. So what can we do against England? It's good to see that these teams that are the underdogs are putting up points. It just shows it is possible to score against them.

It's not one-sided anymore. No, that was phenomenal. Really good performance from her. Also leading from the front, getting into those physical battles, not standing back for anything, which is quite scary against England Roses. That's phenomenal.

Then number three, Aoife Wafer. Okay, she's also on my list. Ireland. Number 8 Also on my list I think What a player This is the best she's looked Since she had that injury Before World Cup They tried to prep her Get her in In World Cup I think injury Did hold her a bit Back in World Cup But she's back Like never before House on fire And so dangerous In the breakdowns Like If you give her The slightest opportunity You're done Yeah Her carries She always gets her Team onto front foot Always Like always give front foot Always No she's phenomenal Like she pushes through. We saw her taking a bit of a hit.

She gets up. She goes like. Yeah, I agree with you on that one. Really great player. I agree with you on that one.

Then you'll like this one. Fly off Scotland. There we go. Ville Nelson. Yeah.

I think she's really been driving that team. They have been struggling a bit. Yeah. But she didn't show any signs of struggle. Like she's been carrying them, driving them.

Very solid to poles. Really consistent to poles. She's just really been a pillar of strength for the Scotland team. And then lastly, another forward. Jeez, I love these forwards.

Cecilia Tepelotti from Wales. Proppy, man, oh man, a physical beast. She has been so good for them. She's really set the standard for all props in that tournament. She's been going at it for like a lot of minutes.

She's been playing a lot of minutes, staying in the fight. Great scrummaging, just all around great, great proppy. And you know, I'm glad you're mentioning a player from Wales because, oh, shame. Yeah. Well, they're struggling, very inconsistent.

I think they're struggling with their player depth a little bit. So it's good to hear from your point that there is a player still that stands out, even though they are struggling a bit. There is someone that's at least giving them a little bit of momentum, you know, a little bit of energy. Okay, I've almost said your whole list, but give me my whole list. Okay, so it's also like a, just going to mention her because she's a star.

We know she's a star. Ellie Kildan. just an electric player to watch like let's be honest she just has this natural talent foot to ball passing seeing space speed finishing she just has it all she just has it all she is just one of those players that i think needs to be mentioned but we'll move along we won't speak too much about her you mentioned molly yeah i'm not going to go into that again she is what she is She is just absolutely amazing. Aoife as well. Then from Ireland on my list, I have Baven Parsons.

I think she is one of the most dangerous backs. I mean, again, everything comes down to the basic skill sets. If the basics are good, it's easy to look very impressive or to be a standout player. If your pass is on point, your running line is on point, you know where to be on attack, you know where to be on defense i think she's just a really solid background okay and i don't think she gets enough credit now she's a she's a workhorse she does the dirty work she does the stuff she's not like a ellie that you know is in the limelight yes i agree but what she does so beneficial to the team then lastly have to mention the fly off as well yeah you know close to my heart uh Carla Arbe yes France number 10 phenomenal so funny story yeah do you remember way back when we were still playing for tux tux sevens Bordeaux university came to South Africa and we played a game against them at the tux stadium in that game Carla was playing yes and every time I see her when we're traveling and look her English is not great so the communication is just like based on rugby because we know each other since we were students since before either of us put on a national jersey so there's real respect there and it's so nice for me to see how rugby has brought us together in that sense but never mind that just the way she plays the way she drives her team the strategic little kicks she puts through when to attack the line when not to attack the line i think watching her over the years how she's grown into the flower position because in the beginning when she just started i thought okay you know still some work still a little bit rusty around the edges and stuff i think she's really grown into herself as the flower position and yeah i think she's going to do some incredible things no and that attacking the line i mean her size she's not she's not a big uh flyer but she really she's not scared to attack the line take that line and she scores from it most of the time exactly and then also what i wanted to add is just um her kick to polls phenomenal yeah i just yeah i think she's a really she's a pivot for that france team she's been the change in that france team i don't think they used her as well in the world cup i don't know if she had an eagle or she just wasn't chosen but she would have been so beneficial if they gave her all the game time in the world cup because she's the change in the six nations i tried to ask her when we're at the world cup when i saw we were changing some kits and stuff and I sort of tried to yeah engage why are you not playing why weren't you playing and it was just kind of like a just not a time yeah it just is what it is you know you know that is how it is in rugby yeah sometimes you just don't get selected and it is what it is yeah but super happy for now playing amazing her little chippies a little okay amazing love chatting women's rugby man it excites me so much now we're moving on to more women's rugby. Of course Of course that all we are We are talking about Rugby Africa women cup 2026 yes this year yes hosted by kenya oh that is the best news i think ever love madagascar yes love it yes love the people love the people love the country but man like we've mentioned it's tough some change humble you change is good change is good change is good i think oh what a breath of fresh air Yes.

Just to go somewhere else. Yes. You know. And thinking of they might send a young team to get some experience. I think that's very exciting.

Yes. Seeing the youngsters coming through, getting that opportunity. I think Cup is the perfect opportunity for us to blood young players. Yes. It is what it is.

Yes. There's no point in denying the fact that we send a younger team there. We do it with a purpose because we need to build depth. We know that we don't have enough depth in the women's rugby. last year's Africa Cup I mean there was 20 20 senior ladies that were left home mm-hmm and a couple of senior ladies that wins and we brought the cup home and we bought the cup home yeah so winning the juniors know what they have to do yes they know going there what is expected when you wear the green and gold in the Africa Cup yeah we are going there to dominate but great experience for them to get that game time, to blood them before they have to really play top ten nations.

No, absolutely. You don't want to throw them into the deep end completely. So I think it's still good quality rugby. It's our African sisters, man. We know how hard they are.

We know what type of rugby they play. It's so tough for 80 minutes. So it's not like it's a walk in the park. It's not easy, but it's such a good confidence booster for the junior girls, I think. Coming from a win, especially when you don't have so many of the big dogs and there's a lot of pressure because there is pressure.

I mean, they will feel the pressure. Defending champs. Defending champs for how many years now? But I think that confidence that they gain from their knowing, oh, we can do this. We can fit in.

We can make this thing happen. I think it's great. No, it's going to be very exciting. I think it's a perfect platform, and I think the Springbok women use it very well. Like, kudos to them.

It's really a perfect platform. Now, moving on to one of my favorite segments, here we go so we have three questions the first question is how can school girl rugby be improved in our country what a question of the what we just spoke about yeah i think it's difficult to improve something that is non-existent honestly yes there are a couple of schools that have taken the initiative to start having their girls train rugby but what are they training for there's no school leagues there's no competition for them to play in 15s or sevens there is unfortunately nothing how are we going to fix that my opinion what i think is we need to get rid of this old mindset that we have in South Africa of women's not supposed to play rugby. Yes. Everyone's moved on. All of the countries has moved on from this mindset.

Your little princess for 80 minutes can be a beast. And then she can get off the field and put her makeup on like we do, paint her nails and be that princess again yeah like don't hold children girl children back from finding their space and being great yeah just because of an old mindset yeah and we can start by involving touch maybe in schools let's not go physical let's give them the vision let's give them the skills let them play touch and then let them move into sevens yes and then once they gain that confidence let's play 15s but we need the foundation we need the tournaments we need the training we need to get rid of the old mindset yes i agree with you 100 i also think many schools that i've reached out to contacted with regards to rugby or touch rugby yeah it's a difficult door to open at all the schools and the biggest thing that i hear is that oh there's no time you know the girls have netball or hockey that they must do I went to the other day the coaches invited me they said you need to come we are having our girls training rugby and I was like this is fantastic let me go see what's happening the girls in the school took on this initiative by themselves because they have hockey and they have netball and they hockey and netball coaches no no no no you're not going to go play no you must say it so they decided fine when hockey and netball training finishes then we have rugby training I love that So they made the effort, the time, the plan to say, okay, we'll have hockey and netball training from three to four, five to six. The girls are going to train rugby. And they have like 90 girls from grade A to matric that are training rugby. I love that.

Which is amazing. Which shows you the girls, there are girls that want to do it. This sport suits every body type, every fitness level, every everything. There's a space for every single person in this sport. Whether you're tall, whether you're short, whether you're skinny, whether you're a bit bigger, this sport has a space for you.

It includes everyone. And that's why I think we have to get it into schools because other sports aren't so inclusive. Now we lose people that says, I'm not going to do sports because there's not a space for me. I'm not tall enough for netball. But rugby has a space for you.

So give them that opportunity to play. And I think the more they see there's a future for women's rugby in this country. listen you can make it your job you're nine to five you get paid well enough you can train there's a life after sport after rugby you get these opportunities the more we show them that the more they'll be they can't ignore it anymore exactly so great question love that's a good question we can do a whole podcast just on that we can do a whole podcast now you spoke about them after um netball and hockey getting into rugby so there was a question love this question Will it be beneficial for the game To poach other athletes For rugby Exhibit A Poached From netball We've poached a lot of girls from netball Everyone knows And they are so successful And they are so successful When they're coming to the rugby space And you wouldn't think that Because people think Oh but you know netball players are so dainty Girl the netball players that have been playing rugby are freaking beasts. Beasts. No, they have the skills.

They can catch, they can pass. Now we just need to teach them the rules. Teach them how to tackle, a little bit of confidence, and they smash it. Love the physicality. And you know what I think it is?

I think in netball, you get so frustrated because you know when someone's like bumping you and you can't, there's nothing you can do about it. You know what I'm doing? Yeah. Rugby, now you can take all that aggression out. Now you can play.

Hockey players will love to have some hockey players. Yes. I mean, that's a physical sport. Yes. Great runners because you run so much in hockey.

Everyone runs so much. So great runners, great physicality. We'll love to have a few hockey players over. I remember when we played for Tux, there was a couple of the Tux hockey players that would sneak in there as well. Love that.

And now the new trend or the new kind of thing that SR Rugby is talking about is maybe some High Rocks athletes joining us, seeing if this could be the space for them. What do you think about that? We'll have to see. Yeah. We'll have to see.

I think if you don't come from a ball sport, it's going to be difficult. Also, it's a team sport. Yo, hi, Roxy. Have your partner. But it's very frustrating, I think, if you are used to, you are the only reason why you win or lose and now having to rely on other people.

I think it's going to be a little bit of a mindset shift that they're going to have to do. But, I mean, if we talk about fitness, strength, they should, they tick those boxes. So if you can find one of those, you can catch a ball, then you're good. Love it. No, I agree.

Okay, last question. If there was one rule you could change to make it more beneficial for women's rugby, what would it be? Nothing. Why? I agree.

I think rugby is rugby at the end of the day. And we're fighting so many battles with not competing with the men, but men having inputs into our game. Imagine now we want to change some rules. Now they're just going to look down on us even more. Exactly.

And then is it still rugby? You don't see different rules in soccer. Exactly. You don't see different rules in cricket. We've shown that by the same law, we can produce the same quality.

Exactly. I love all the rules. No rule changes, please. They can stay. Let's take it.

Okay. Now. Or never. It is game time. Game time.

Let's go. This week is my opportunity to play a game with you. Okay. Okay. You'll get blindfolded.

Oh, I love that for me. Yes. Okay. So, after last week's very successful game, I love that game, by the way. I felt the pressure to step it up this week.

So, you'll be blindfolded. Okay. Any vision? Any vision? No.

Okay, there's your mic. So. Am I tasting something? Am I sniffing something? This week's challenge.

Am I licking something? Is the mic by my face? Yes, perfect. This week's challenge is called the one-inch taste test. What's that?

So, I'm going to give you a really small bite of something. Oh, gosh. There's five things, and you have to guess what you're tasting. Is it things that I like? Yes, yes, yes.

Okay. I'm a picky eater. I won't do that to you. Okay. We're going to start it off easy.

Okay. Okay. Okay, so it is on a little toothpick. Oh my gosh. So just reach out, I'll put the toothpick in your hand and it's on the other edge, obviously.

So first up, let's go. It's an easy one. Is it close to my mouth? How do you not know where your mouth is? Just because you blindfolded Oh there a bullet Ah yay Okay easy easy first That was a good one okay you can put it down okay now you in it oh that a chewy bolt down that was a good one okay tell me when you're ready if you need a palette cleanser alfie alfistrift 221 is here do you need them no okay tell me when you need a palette cleanser so that you don't mix up the taste next one next up Where's the ear?

Okay, get ready. Okay. You know this one. You know it well. I know.

You use it a lot, as you said to me last week. It's like an energy bar. I need more specifics. Otherwise, you don't get this point. A protein bar.

Is it a protein bar? Shot, shot, shot, shot. Okay. That was a good one. Third one.

Here he is. You got him? Okay. Slow motion. What a trap.

I feel like after the protein bowl Everything's mixed up But sour But I think it's a mango Is it a mango? I made it too easy Yes it is It's a Woolies mango It is a Woolies It's the consistency of a Woolies mango Woolies sponsors Okay Fourth one Three on three Okay Hmm oh i was a sour worm okay last one hopefully this one is a bit trickier do you need a palette cleanser you good i will give you your alfis drift two two one the last one's gonna be difficult ready okay surely can't get five out of five that's lame overachiever is it something nice yes i won't give you gross things it's a cheese five out of five okay you're too good that was delicious not gonna lie that was good i should have put something bad in there isn't it you should have just spice it up with something gross um not gross maybe like just something that i don't like like a raisin oh that would have been awful that would have died no i would not do it and that also means i have to buy raisins and have them in my house what are you gonna do with a whole pack of raisins okay now let's go to something controversial Ooh, I like controversy Okay Don't tend to be with a good time A lot of people have been very vocal about this point But it's time for us to give an opinion, okay? Okay So, recently it's been announced That WXV this year There will be a ball change Ball size change So they are going to experiment with the 4.5 size ball Which they've tested at the 7s already True We've played with it in the pick and play Super League what is your views what is your opinion look i think uh holly atchison is the first flyer to actually speak up about this yeah she says she thinks it's a mistake okay i cannot disagree with her because i think the fact is look i know they say the weight is the same the smaller ball size should be better grip for women. Great.

I see it. However, as a kicker, if the ball is smaller, it means you have a smaller surface area for your foot to strike. Firstly, not only that, when it comes to your ball drop, the slightest difference, especially in a drop kick, if you are even a little bit off, that ball is going to be dropped very skew. With the bigger ball, you've got a little bit more play if you drop it a little bit skew. So that is what I think.

Okay. I will be getting some balls from Gilbert to suss it out. Okay. To test. They're going to send me a couple of balls.

I'm going to put boot to ball, test it out. I think handling-wise, yes, I see it. It makes sense. We've seen it in the sevens. The kickers, I think, obviously, the sevens isn't so much kicking, so the feedback in regards to that maybe might not have been as accurate.

I think the biggest test is going to be for the kickers when it comes to the fifth-hand. Okay, but you're going to try it, and you're going to give honest opinion? I will try it. I will give my honest feedback after having actually kicked the ball a couple of times. Not just out of thumb sucking.

This is just what I think. What I think is that the surface area being smaller is going to affect your kicking. However, with that said, yes, we've been kicking with a size five ball since we started. There's nothing that says we can't just learn how to kick this ball. So, yes, we can adapt, improvise, overcome.

We'll probably have to do that. But, you know, is it really going to make a difference in the game? I don't know. We'll have to see. Okay.

Let me play devil's advocate in this. Because from a kicking perspective, yes, I totally agree with you. I also kick a lot. It does have a major impact on kicking. Kicking a bigger surface makes it a bit easier.

But if you compare how many kicks there will be in a game to how many minutes are being played with this ball, I think that's the change they want to bring in. How many times the ball is handled in a game? It's way more than what you kick it. Can that up the tempo, the intensity, and the quality of rugby being played? Because we have smaller hands.

Now we have better handling, better passing accuracy. And even for the hookers, that might really set them onto a next level just because the size is a bit better for their hands. And you need good grip on the ball to be able to throw into the lineups. So I'm thinking my argument is just the fact that there's way more ball in play than kicks is what they're thinking is. Can we get the stats up from the ball in play and the kicks will be able to.

Yeah, yeah. I hear you and I agree with you on that point. But in the women's game, in the past, it has been said there's not a lot of kicking in the women's game because the skill level is not good enough. now all of a sudden we are seeing players kick contestables, cross kicks territorial kicks, so many more kicks and it's elevating the women's game and now we are just getting the hang of like playing a little bit more, you know, kicking games and now we're going to have to start a game with a different ball, figuring out how you're going to drop the ball, all these things. But I do hear you I think there are pros and cons Like I say, let me put boots a ball and then give some honest feedback.

I meant to that. Don't kick it before you tried it. Don't kick it until you tried it. Okay. Now, I really, really love you.

Deeply care for you. But I've been starting to get a bit bored by you. Oh, there it is. Oh, just you. There it is.

Let me say that, just you. Okay. So, what is your thought about having a guest, a third person? I think that would be lovely because I've said all I can to you, to be honest. We've bantered enough.

I think it's time for some fresh banters. I think so. So maybe in the near future we'll have a third party here. Yes. I like it.

We'll give them a platform to tell their story, to give their side to some of the stories we've told about them maybe. Yes. So now it's up to you guys. And you can play some games with them. Play games with them.

And make them eat raisins. Now no one's going to come. So, it's up to you guys. Get into the comments. Tell us who would you like to see as our first guest on our podcast.

There's a lot of opportunities. Don't even just stick to rugby. Whoever you want to see. Anyone. Whoever you want to know more about.

Whoever you think will make a great guest. Even if you just want to see us roast them. Like, go. Get them in here. Okay.

Okay, and then recently Women's Cricket World Cup has announced their team going to the World Cup. It's exciting. It's happening soon. Please, let's get behind the women. Definitely.

Definitely. Women in sport needed support. Women in sport, we're all fighting the same battles. We all know the struggles. We all know how difficult it is to do what we do.

So why not? Springbok women made history in England. Let's see the proteo women make some history in England. We back you, we behind you all the way. Proteo woman, let's go all the way.

Let's do this. Okay, and then, wait, before you end it. Okay. I have a secret to tell you. Oh no, what is it?

But please remove the Shure mics so that no one hears the secret. I'm very good at keeping secrets no one's gonna get it out of me you might have to stay tuned but if you've made it this far into the podcast thank you we see you we love you appreciate the support. Remember, like, share, and subscribe. Bye! Goeie comments.

Okay, bye! Live out! Thank you.

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