Lions Watch And Future Predictions

This episode is brought to you by British Army Recruitment. You might know the Army's exciting, but have you ever thought, what's in it for me? Well, you can travel the world and you can play rugby. If you're looking for a career in the army, you need to know you can play sport too. They build it into your working life. Most bases have Wednesday afternoons dedicated to sport and rugby is one of the sports you can play. And if you're really good, the Army Rugby Union is affiliated with the RFU. You're right, some players compete at elite level while still serving. And if you want to develop off the pitch, they'll fund your coaching qualifications too. You can be a full time or part time soldier playing the game you love while building teamwork and leadership skills that go way beyond the pitch. Fitness instructor engineer or communications expert wherever your strengths are there's a role for you and if that sounds like your kind of team environment search army jobs to find out more it's official the only thing Sean I will talk longer about than the ball size is F4 Wafer. That is so hard to do bro. Have we found your crumbling point? Woo! King, Wafer and Hogan I think are the best most consistent back bro in the comp. They are doing amaz ing things. There is there there will be work done I've no doubt this week in the England camp but France still be rubbing their hands thinking if Italy can do it then we're gonna do it too. Oh sorry. Do I fall asleep when you go on about rolling moors? It wasn't rolling, it was running. I stay with you in the room. You can listen to my kick medal. You can listen to my damn kick medal between chores and I've bride. This episode is brought to you by Royal London, the founding partner of the first ever British and Irish Lions women's tour. I still get ghost bumps every time you say that it ''causes quite incredible. Anyway, we're back after a week away for the bye week, although we did still put an episode out, didn't we? Which you can still watch by the way. And you probably know what weight roses now. I do as well. How' yours bye week? Uh it won't surprise you. I c we live really, really different lives, don't we? I just so chill. But chill with dinner at my house and at my garden. But I feel like if you were at home you'd be doing similar. Hundred percent. So went to a boot fair. A what? A bo Oh, okay. Oh no, I don't know if we've got time to do this again. A boot a car boot fair? Car boot sale? No, get it out . No, wait. You're telling me people sell stuff out of your boot. Yeah. No boat. What? Can you take Oh no Yep, yeah, what are you doing next Sunday? I'll take Oh you're a bit busy next Sunday. Maybe the one after that. Yeah, we can take you. Wow. Um yeah, just like the tens and tens of cars and set anyway Benji buys uh a lawnmower for a tenner it doesn't work but it's like his new side hustle he's gonna do up lawnmowers but particularly when he saw this brand it's just like this fancy I think it's Harris hate hat haterer Har rier. And it he's Googling and he's like Sean is that 500 quid done up and he bought it for a tenner, so he's buzzing. I mean he's not sold it for 500 quid yet. But the white rose of Lum os. Yes, no me! Yes, it is no way. That was rubbish we didn't knock out the microphone I'll talk side That's it so Hater if you wanna send us a little moment we um We we got you And more garden stuff which won't surprise you to know. Not at all. Uh you n nice and chilled one for you, I assume. Just chilled, eh? Yeah. Just absolutely chilled, woke up in Scandinavia bo . 'Cause I didn't go to Italy for the England game, which I was real upset about, but we did a studio show, I guess, um, for the BBC and it was in Manchester, which is like up. I didn't realise how up it was. And so I just I know where Manchester is really. And uh yeah, I just so the flight, I just flew to Scandinavia and it was it was wonderful when then I straight from Manchester? Yeah, I think so. And then I just flew back and it was yeah, it's good. Given that we were MIA last week, there was a massive ball debate. Oh bro . Shall we because I don't think it's a secret, we have different opinions. And We absolutely disagree, by the way. And but we love each other enough to be okay to disagree here. It's a safe space. We're honest with you guys and we're honest with each other. And we absolutely just disagree on this point, which I think is great. 'Cause I go on shows and I've everyone's just the same. No point of view. And also I think this is a reflection on society. No, you think if you disagree with someone about something, you can't be friends. And we are if you looked us up in a dictionary, you'd be at A and I'd be at Z. Like we are opposite ends of spectrum in everything we do. So it doesn't surprise you. Okay, so basically, if you've missed the big chat, world rugby, want a trial, a four point five size rugby ball. They are trying it. They are trialing a four point five size rugby ball in the women's game. So everyone usually plays with a size five, which is about this size. And the four point five is three percent lighter. No. That is that and that is one of the big things. It's three percent smaller. Sorry. It is three percent smaller. Don't ask me. Because it is the same weight, and that is uh one of my points, but you carry on, Gil? Do you want to introduce the topic? No no you carry on. Um it um you actually probably could do this better let's be honest. Uh it's three percent smaller. It's not lighter. I find the main difference as a rugby player is the four point five seems slimmer, which the people who don't play rugby say it's the same, it's not the same, it it floats better, uh floats different, sorry, and it I think you notice it particularly when passing and kicking, but it is a trial to make the women's game better and someone this week who kinda should have an opinion and should have been approached to talk about it said something this week about it. Yeah Zoe Harrison I I quote is the worst decision someone has ever made. And that's quite a like it's quite a standout quote, but number one, it's very Zoe Harrison. Like you ask her a question, you've got to get an answer. This was REC too. But also she like it's working for her. She's one of the best kickers kickers in the world across the men's and women's game. Obviously she's not gonna want it changed so like completely understand where Zoe's coming from. But should we do just a little rundown of what what we think and why and take it in turns in a very civilised debate. Almost like we was in the House of Commons, but you're not gonna know what that is. How's the parliament? I feel like we're uncommon. It dip N we're like House of Lords, mate. I think it sounds cool. Don't know what that is, but it sounds cool. Okay . Look, first issue is if you haven't talked to Zoe Harrison about it, have you really asked the people that you really should be asking from world rugby? I've talked to all the I would say all the best kickers in World Rugby right now, none of them like even back home, New Zealand, uh none of them have had any kind of thorough talking to about it. Discussion. Discussion about it, which I just think is probably step one. Uh so it's it's kinda how the whole thing is gone about. It's just kinda like, yep, super doing it, trolling it. And also I was having a chat with like a couple of prominent rugby female rugby players and I am open to a trial for anything that could potentially make the game better 100% but is this a trial if they already implemented it in sevens in the under 18s and now in the WXV, they're going to put all this money into it. Are you just gonna say, we trialed it, it's go, let's go. What are the metrics you're looking at? I feel like none of this data's been released. Yeah. Uh I think, you know, so if the game's gonna be better, does that mean ev every game of WXV is gonna have fifty eight offloads and 100% conversion rate. I just like what what are you looking at here? What's the trial? You know, I just feel like that hasn't been integrated within the women rugby players at the moment. And I I remember vividly bro, 10 ten, fifteen years ago when the English lot you guys uh kind of campaigned around the playing group, talked to us about it . And I think back then when we were amateur, it actually probably could have made a real difference. I think that would've made a real difference. But what woman rugbyes had to do is we just we just sucked it up. We didn't get the help we needed back then. We which is was just a reality for us. We went and got better. So now we're seeing the first generation of players that have played rugby for a very long time, grew up with a rugby ball, had actual coaching. That's why Zoe Harrison's nudging them from the side and I think it was seventeen, eighteen in a row, six nations, like the best uh men's or woman's rugby in the Six Nations competition. It's not like it happened overnight and she's just good with that ball. We're finally getting what we need out of the sport. So I'm open to a trial bro, but I just am like it just kind of feels like we needed this a while ago, and now they just got to it now. That's just what it feels like. The first one I think how you mentioned your last point is in in my mind how it translates. We needed the help back then, we didn't get it. We've struggled on since then. And we've done all right. So let's carry on struggling. Like rather than adapting. I've just got that's how it translates in my brain. Uh and I I do agree with you on the comms bit, but I mean for me it's the especially when I counter the arguments that are already out there , that people say will people take the women's game seriously if the ball is smaller? Well, if you look at the rest of women's sport, if you look at the the implement size in shot put, discus, hammer, throw, javelin, they're all like women's implements are lighter. The hurdles are shorter, but also you've got 110-metre hurdles for men, you've got 100 metre hurdles for women. You've got the W the women's NBA play with a size six, the men's NBA play with a size seven. So there's already precedent for differences in the women's and men's games. And then for me, actually, the biggest part of it is because then people say oh it's a slippery slope to having smaller pitches or making pi kickers kick from closer in and not letting them go further than the fives or the tens. And I completely disagree with that because those things are are making the game easier and like degrading skill level. But actually, if you have a size four and a half, you're enabling women. So you're enabling them to be better. You are about to unlock more potential in what they can do. That is nothing about a smaller ball that makes the game easier for a woman. Having a smaller pitch makes it easier. Having kickers kick from closer in makes it easier, but a smaller ball is about allowing women to do more with it. I don't understand that point. What do you mean? It does make it easier. But a pass is now well it it's easier in a way where you can handle the ball better, but it doesn't mean like when you make a pitch smaller, there is less run in. If you bring kickers in to so if a even if a tryer squad on the touchline, no matter what, the kicker will only take from the maximum the tens. So bring like 15 met ers off. So you are allowing an easier kick for a kicker. You're allowing an easier pass with a smaller ball. No, it's a more controlled pass. The hell's it different? Because you've got making something completely easier by bringing the kick in versus allowing more offloads. I think that point's a push. I think that point's a push. That's my best point. Okay. First of all, I I wanna rebut the you we're gonna carry on struggling. That's not what I'm saying. We were struggling, we got over it. We're great now. We don't need it now. And it's not just a struggling we keep struggling. It's like it's just frustrating because this to me was so relevant ten, fifteen years ago. Now it's like we don't need that money for the bulls. We need that money to go into the medical records of the professional women's players. They're not even there in some clubs, which is so worrying. The menstrual cycle, why don't what why don't we put more into that and train around that? Like there's just so many other to me relevant matters that could be big news right now and this is just such old news to me. Like I'm I I don't know how you feel about talking about this again and again and again. It's like bro. But I what I want to s put forth in both of our arguments is thank you, World Rugby, for looking into doing something for women's rugby. I frickin' appreciate that. I just feel like it's a little bit outdated now. And the the shot put thing, the javelin thing, the the WMBA, because their ball is two ounces lighter than the means. Isn't it a beautiful thing in rugby to say our pitch is the same size, our rugby pool's the same size, bro, our posts are the same size and we I don't know if you get asked in the street, but I get asked, do you even tackle? Yes, woman tackle. But that that means you're satisfying people who don't even think we tackle. Like, why waste your energy on people who are so ignorant to the game that don't even think we tackle to hold back so much of our game? Because I it like it doesn't bother me either way. I would proudly say no, we play with a smaller ball. Like, and in my mind, I'm like, obviously, we if this was to come in, obviously we play with a smaller ball. We're women, we are physiologically smaller, so why would we not do what's right for us? I love the same size rugby ball as every other young boy, young girl, old man, young woman that I play with, that I meet in the park, that I have kickoffs with and beat. I love the same-size ball. I think it's one of the most beautiful parts of rugby same size pitch I stand up on top of my little soapbox you guys call it or on a stage and I say bro I I tackle the same we run the same pitch I love that about rugby I think rugby's the best sport in the world and that's one of the reasons that makes it great. Shall we finish it ? Agree to disagree, as they say. We agree to disagree, but people in the comments, please like, subscribe, and comment with real like points, like factual points. If you've talked to rugby players, please comment that because I think that's what we need. We need experience. Even someone from World Rugby, if you want. That everything that you're allowed. We're both on boards and we understand sometimes you can't put out everything because confidential. But please put out what you can. It will just help us. And we want to be on the same teams with rugby. We want to develop the game. So please help us do it in the most efficient, fantastic way. In other news, Ruby has some of her own news. Would you like to see it or do you want me to take centre stage? I love you in your centre stage, but I think I need to get this off my chest um from my heart. I've been over in the UK for a while now. Lots of people asking me, what are you doing with rugby? Are you still playing? And I've been inspired over here, my bro, so I've dusted these off. I I am gonna play rugby again in this country. Yeah, see I need to use them. I eat my dinner off that is. Yeah, so I'm gonna I'm gonna boot up. I'm gonna lace up again uh next month and this is this is the team, bro. You ready? You've got it on. This is the team. She's got it on. She's gonna be a barber ! It's a historic team, Russ. Um it means a lot to even be approached. Uh and yeah, so gonna play at Ali an Stadium, Tukenham, which is you know great memories in that stadium first time I played there was 2015 sevens sold out couldn't hear a thing uh so yeah to have a bit of a comeback game for the barbers um means a lot in this part of the world and and back home for those who you know educated on it. So it's um yeah, I'm a little bit nervous, Bus, uh to put those boots back on, but I'm excited. Tell us about what Barbarians is. So it's basically you get a it's really it's quite beautiful, you get a uh invite like a bull, but it's to the bar bars and you open up the letter and it says, you know, congratulations on on all your service to international and club rugby, uh, to kind of celebrate that players all over the world um come together and and a few get selected and invited um to be a part of this team. Historic team. I I actually consulted a few mentors um about it, one of them being Drico. Brian O'Drisco, we had a chat with him and um talked to uh Brian Habana, even DC, Dan Carter was like Rubes, if you get the opportunity, please do it, you know. So a lot of big names have kind of worn the juicy. Um DC actually never got to, so he made sure I knew that if if I get to I gotta do it. So you know I I've I I always look to mentors for big rugby decisions and all of them said this is one of the most historic, kind of famous rugby teams in the world and if you've got the privilege to be asked, don't don't waste that opportunity. So it's a it's basically a historic club. Um, and and if you've been around a while on the international scene, you kind of start eyeing up the jersey a little bit. So yeah, I'm I'm nervous, bro. I'm nervous. Team to be announced, obviously but, the coach has got announced last week. Susie Appleby and Sarah Hunter and I I've always respected Sarah Hunter. I've caught her at a couple of games and to be to be coached by a Red Rose legend like that. You know, just kinda punching yourself moments, so yeah, it's a big deal. Yeah. And that game, if anybody wants to go along and watch, will be at the Allianz against Wales on the 27th of June. And coming, come and support me. I'll be there . Right, shall we get on to the weekend then? Let's talk footy now that I can take that top off 'cause it was hot and yet. You remember we started our own little feature the other week? Ruby's Roundup. Oh no, I can't wanna do it with you. I'm gonna time with you. You gonna do it with me? I don't know if that's cheating. Is that allowed? Should I? It mig helhtp me. Okay, fine. Right, you've got 30 seconds for Ruby's roundup. Three, two, one, go. England booths, Italy, in Italy. Excit ing history made with Marley Packer . Second top try scorer of all time. Pretty amazing. Uh massive, massive tries. However, Italy still get their bonus point. Third team. They ever do so. Oh my goodness, it's halfway three. They got five charges against England . Uh uh Wales, Italy, uh sorry, Wales, Ireland, great game. Ireland showed massive energy and their defense was stopped. Wales even getting a look in. And then Scotland, great debut, but they went down heavily against France . That is so hard. That is so hard to do, bro. So we have we found your crumbling point. Woo! Because you know high performance actually always, always performing under pressure on the wing, all eyes are always on you. But 37 . Did I do anything that was close to wrapping it up? The whole thing? You kinda yeah, you kind of did the whole weekend. To be fair, we only wanted your take, so you only really needed to do the one game you were I didn't even talk about last year. Yeah, jeez. Gee, that was hard. Should have practiced what I got in here. Right, so table looks like this. England and France are joint first on twenty points , Ireland are in third with ten points, followed by Italy on seven, Scotland with five, and Wales in the wooden spoon position on two points. Okay then. Italy v England. 33 61 to England. Nine tries for England. Five for Italy. They have become another team. Italy have become another team to get a bonus point against England, which seems to be a bit of a theme. I wonder how that's going down in Red Roses Camp, but they will now be the third ever team to get a bonus point against England in a six nations. Will England be frustrat ed by that? It's funny uh coming over here and people kinda really talking a lot about oh bonus point first bonus point against England like isn't that what you want? You know, like I I think I don't know, I just can't wait for that not to be news to be honest. But from England's perspective, little bit of context, like you know, they injuries in twelve twelve people are out. Yeah. Like not injured with injuries and pregnancies, 12. That is I just think people don't understand. Like I'm I talk to the boys back home. I'm like, oh yeah, the England are carving up. They're like, yeah. I'm like, no. Gee, they have had 12 losses to their starting squad. There there's only four people that have started in the same position this whole six nations, um Mick Jones, Lucy Packer, Helen Rowland, happy fifty by the way, and uh Amy Cocaine who's carving up. But I mean the what England are doing with what they've had to go through, I think is can we just not go past that like it's and also having an interesting chat with a couple of read raises like they are really trying some new stuff on a tech. They're really they got this this ne neww this new style, new coaching, new management. And when you go so hard on your attack and growing your attack, obviously something has to kinda not like drop off. This will be a something has to give. Something has to give. And so I think people don't kinda register that as well, like what England are trying to do to grow and to, you know, just completely transform as a team on a tech, so yeah, y sometimes de, you know, kinda lags. It's like the building blocks and part of the process and all part of the plan. Like I would love to be in one of Mitch's meetings to say to to listen to him, is it like is he saying like we're good and maybe I I would suggest the girls are probably more of a oh this is not good enough, like bonus points tri,es against. But Mitch will be the guy to say, no girls, like this this is part of the plan. We said we was gonna not not rebuild, but was gonna mix it up, we was gonna do things differently, as multiple players told us at the beginning of the tournament and now this is just it happening. So talking about the attack, I sorry, I would love this is a personal question. The amount that Zoe puts it on her boot, like it attacking kicks like to then score, which happened twice in that game. Do you think she's whispering, particularly Helena Rowland's try? She just sort of it looks, especially to me as a forward, like I'm not on the pitch, it looks like Zoe just puts it on a boot. Because in terms of the where the other players are, yes, they're all up flat, but I feel like they're just waiting for her to do it. And it's not necessarily part of the plan, but they're so in tune with each other. And like, how does Ellie know she's gonna need to be there to keep keep that in touch? And obviously the ideal plan from Zoe would have been that it stayed in and Helen and Rowan scored straight away. But do you think that's part of the plan? Look if you've got a player like Zoe Harrison, like I've played with a couple of teens like that, it's you you actually don't need to say it because the space is really, really clear. So as a back line, you want to be looking for the same pitches. And usually, hopefully, your coach is directing you, it's the easy space. You're not trying to, it's not the, oh, but there's space here. Th'eres a little bit. No, no, it's the the this is clearly where the space is. And so especially a player like Alice, she can keep kind of anything in. You know, um if the kick is on, you should already understand it before it's spoken about. But that kind of unspoken intuition does take time. And it with you do need that chemistry, that combination, but it should be drilled in throughout the week. And I s especially the way England are playing at the moment, I I have a feeling I don't know, I'm not in there, the coaches should be saying, put up a picture, what's on here? And all of the backs should say there there's a space there. And you say all of the backs, Marley Packer's first try. Yeah, all the players actually, yeah. Yeah. So true. I thought that was such an amazing try, bro. Like and I was laughing because I I feel like you feel like Zoe probably could have passed it, but like why? Why when my kids be over? Back to the Meg Jones, the missed pass moments and and the last game, easy space. But Zoe's about testing herself, right, and testing her team and keeping everybody to the highest standard. But I I yeah, think you I'm I think maybe because I've played against them so much too, I feel like you can tell when Zoe's gonna put it on the foot. Like they have the best of the backs have this the ears up. I've literally in my career, I've I'm not joking, a coach has come in and it was a it was a scrum and I just was on the edge and our defense line was line speed but I chose to sit back just as they as Zoe got in her hands because I knew Zoe was gonna kick it sure enough she kicked it straight to me and my coach comes in and goes how how did you know that? Because all I told you to go up and you did the right. How did you know that? But I think the same as chemistry together, you learn chemistry players games. And I Zoe is one of the best kickers out there. You always have to be ready for it. But can that try by Marley Packer, she still had work to do. She still had to sprint. And it was a winger she kinda got away from. Like Marley Packer, you animal, that was amazing. Yeah. So yeah, that was yeah. And then talking about Italy's tries . And I'm obviously I'm biggest England supporter and I want the girls to do the best all of the time and so therefore I'm about pushing them. If we pick at some of their defence and actually I I would suggest that there is work to be done, particularly looking at going into France next week around the breakdown. But does that come into new structures, new players that are not quite in tune with the defensive systems around the breakdown? But like there was two quick picks from Italy, and both of those led to tries. France, for me, France see that and just like rubbing their hands together, and like they just do it all the time anyway, let alone seeing it being done the week before. However, could that be England have seen that's the weakness? We need to go hard on that this week a against France. But it it comes back to that England aren't invincible. They can be scored against, but what you have to do is do things slightly differently and not not conventional, not textbook, just use heads up rugby as I coaches always say, like play the space and play the game, etcetera. But I just think there is there is there there will be work done, I've no doubt, this week in the England camp, but France still be rubbing their hands thinking if Italy can do it, then we're gonna do it too. Like let's just be unconventional. And that might also then lead to other things because it again, Wales's tries a couple of weeks ago were things that were a little bit unconventional, the break off from the mall, etcetera. So I think that's that's probably gonna be the way to score against England. Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? I think Italy's backfield were called out of position a lot and that's why those grubbers through were were so effective. I don't know if France will do that. I think especially with the expense of Paulon Bourdon Susseur, she always seems to drop back at the perfect time. Um so I don't think those will be options and I think England previewed that. But the stuff through the ruck, I definitely think England would have taken note of it. It was funny, one of them was Scorbini who Scorabini who sh she was on the bench and she was playing the match the round before so she had a little bit of a you know it was really cool to see her come out off the bench and just blow run away for a couple of tries. So yes, I think Italy previewed that, but I do think I'm gonna clean that up. I don't know, you know, like I think the reason I'm not worried about England set piece D or like first phase D is because France are an offload quick at you team. So the defence issues everyone kind of wants to point out for the Red Roses, which aren't even that many, we're just trying to find something, I think it's not as relevant because France don't play like other teams. So for me, the D's gonna be they're gonna have to have a good backfield , especially in the attacking sorry, especially in their defensive half because Paul on Sansus kicks come from anywhere, literally anywhere. And the stuff through the rack obviously, but it's the it's the quick attacking off,loading, you know, quick movements. That's actually I think where England Red Roses will have their issues. So I think it's a bit of a kind of nil aw at the moment. And they are equal top the table. It's gonna be a completely different game from any of the other Six Nations games we're going to see. And I think France will penetrate the line, but in a way that no one else actually has this whole season. Oh no, we didn't prepare for that bit. Yeah, yeah. Even though you're right, there is actually, as other teams have shown, opportunity around those set pieces and around those breakdowns so it's gonna be amazing it's gonna be amazing in the mood for nando 's you'll find it on Deliver Room . So when flame grilled chicken with peri salted chips is calling, sit back, tap and rela x . We'll deliver your Nando's faves in as little as 25 minutes . Order now on delivery . Now that's saucy. Geographical restrictions, service and delivery fees may apply. Delivery times may vary. See an app for current delivery estimates . And so Italy then Italy box kicked more than any other n ation . As a forward I'm like, oh kick kicking again are we got and go, Oh, we didn't even kick that far.. You've just gone high And we've just tried to get it back. And and I get it. You're kicking to create space, you're kicking to make something happen, make them make a decision, bring a defensive lineup. I I get it, but what what do you see working for the as I see, what do you see working for them and what hasn't worked for them? So I felt for Italy because the game plan that worked so well against Scotland, which was short kick over the top, lands in between the front line and the back line, they smoke that tackle, and then they when they roll out, they roll in the way of the cleaner and then they flood that ruck. Turnover, penalty, kick for the corner, more try. That was their game plan against Collin. 29-0 worked a treat. First twenty minutes, I remember clearly they tried it. They smoked the they smoked the tackle , but they didn't turn over that ball. In fact they knocked the ball on in that carnage. England completely cleaned it up. Sing under the high ball was amazing and it didn't work. And so for the first twenty minutes, when you have when you don't even have much possession and your game plan is to kick it, just did not work. The first twenty minutes, the position stats were 81% to England. Like it just it wasn't going nowhere. And I kind of was going because everyone knows Italy the first 20 the first half is where they're usually dominant and I think England did an amazing job at starting well and not letting them get that 20 minute kind of momentum. So then England Italy, to their credit , Italy self-identified on the pitch, changed their game plan and started doing things up the middle of the park and holding onto the pill. And I think by the end of the game that the position was back to basically 50-5 0. So it's good they have that kicking game plan there, but probably against those yeah, against the teams that can kind of identify it, handle it, and completely put that fire out straight away. They need to adapt quicker, I think. Yeah. Um because they have great ball runners. The back three for Italy , everyone knows are great. They've been scoring all tournament. They didn't get the ball. And and that was a real issue. So just adapting and probably getting them more involved, attacking the middle channels when you have to, I think will be key to Italy moving forward. But also, I think Italy had a great Six Nations campaign, man. Five tries against England, 29-nil against Scotland. Like I just can't believe that's huge, you know, it's massive. So I think moving forward, man, it's it's really cool to see Italy growth from where they've come from. Yeah, of course. Um and so England had a a few debut ants, one of which was your mate, Hady Head. What's what's she like? You always tell me you big her up to everyone. I wanna let us and I'm glad 'cause she don't be a shop, right? Headline news, Ruby does know what she's talking about. Are you saving that dessert for me? No, let's pull some joke. Um yeah, so went on this really cool random trip with a bunch of mates to Albania one time. And uh As you do. As you did a few weeks ago. And uh yeah, me and Haiti it got on really well and um she told me about her journey and this is just oh I don't know another heartwarming host moment but I just love those stories yeah especially in rugby doesn't matter that you know if you've been told or you've been having a real hard time and one team it's a lot of us go oh, I, must not be good and don't do anything about it. So she's an Aussie, you know, working her behind off, trying to crack not just 15, 7s, reds, anything. She just loves rugby. You know, her her parents are massive rugby supporters and then isn't kind of getting to where she'd want, so she calls up PWR. They gave her a shot at Ealing Trail Funners. She also played on the wing for them one time too. Like she's just an athlete. Yeah. You know, head down, if you watch her play, she's just workhorse, work course, at everything, in everything, athletic. Cracks the England under twenties, is it? Under twenties, yeah. Under twenties, yep. And her parents try and surprise her to watch her under twenties game. So fly over, they try and surprise her, come over for her under twenty twenties game, and then lo and behold, makes the England Red Roses camp. She's T R then she gets told she's debuting. So her parents are like, we'll just stay. We came over for your under-twenties debut. We're now gonna watch you an Italy debut for the best rugby team in the world. And her parents have been by her side all these hard times and Aussie, you know. And she runs out in front of her parents, bro . And this amazing stadium for this amazing team. Like it's just I love those stories. Like hard work gets you somewhere in life. Effort over talent and all those quotes, you know, just the epitome. Amazing. Um and then another debutant was Christina Bologan. Maddy Furunati was ruled out um not long before kickoff actually. And so she got moved to the bench and ends up winning a first cap on the sixty-fourth minute, coming off. Did you what did you make of her? Because I you probably won't have known much about her because she's uh she's a Bristol Bears player, non-contracted, like has a day job. She she actually well her LinkedIn says that she works with UK's leading house builders to find top new talent in new homes sales and marketing. And you're like, Ah? So where'd you fit rugby in? But have you have you seen much of her? Was she uh maybe a surprise like if you've not seen her play much it's funny because I went I'm really close with Lou I don't hate to meet and so I went and watched her Bristol game uh in Cardi ff and so I against the Queens, which they won and I ended up meeting them all. So I actually sat for the men's game next to Simi and Chris behind and I met and they were heaps of fun, you know, great and I just seen them you know, she's really physical, like you really notice her out for the Bristol Bears. Uh so I actually did notice her, but I you know, I guess like Haiti, you don't kind of expect these amazing twelve injuries. Twelve red roses out and and which is obviously a a negative thing, but the positive side is there's all these opportunities. And so yeah, to see um Chr istiana go out there and and do her thing and then that beautiful moment she had with Simi after. Um like it's just oh these are the stories I think that are really important for people to hear 'cause you just never know. Well also like stories are important for people to hear to add that she was given an all clear from blood cancer, like relatively not that long ago, and then to run out for your first England cap in Italy, had that moment with Sim pant afterwards and love that it was captured on and like Simi and Simi uh commented herself saying I just catch my ugly tears. It's just like full on. I don't care who's watching. This is my mate. She's now an official red rose and I couldn't be more proud of her. But as we say that, that's's our beautiful game, right? That's the positive side that's so important for young girls and boys out there trying to crack it to see. You just never know when that door's gonna open, brass. Never know. Keep knocking. Keep knocking. And hey ugly cries are the most beautiful thing because they're real, right? So shout out Simi and Chris. Can we just shout out Marley Packer, bro? A teammate of yours, I mean, I'm sitting there with the team sheets at the BBC studios gun. She's the only red rose starting in her 30s. She's the only forward in the top five top try scorers of all time in England, which she sits now at number two. Jess Breach won't be having none of that, will she? But you know, four tries, player of the match for the second round in a row she's just like she's just I'm just so appreciative of that woman right now yeah and it's not like she's not really doing all these crazy things that no one can do she is leg driv ing excellently world class. She puts out a fend every time she carries a ball. She finds a weak shoulder and everyone's like, Oh, did she get it down? She get of course she got it down. This ain't her first radio, brass. This is the first thing she made sure when she gets over that line, you know, like little things. We've seen a couple of Tries and Six Nations not finished because it ain't finished until it is, but not with Marley Packer, bro. I'm just the bit of a fan club ground over here, but yeah. And we we had our Marley Packer appreciation moment uh a couple of episodes ago, but to see her get player of the match two times in a row. This is not this is not club rugby, this is not local rugby, this is England team in the six nations championships, and Marley Packer is smashing it. Um and of course she she 'll be the first one to say that she is backed up by an incredible team off pitch as well, as well as on pitch and the forwards, the general just the mindset of the forwards uh and it's it is that Marley Packer mindset that she gets into people like no one is stopping you you do the basics well every single time you do your job nobody else we don't need to do special things. We just need to do what we're here to do. That is the beauty of rugby and the beauty of the team, the beauty of difference and why we come together so well. Is because this team, people are good at different things. Marley Packer does her job so well and it's shines she scores she just she just scores top tri come on a back row top tri scorer in the six stations come on um but then it's because other people are doing their job incredibly well and the the forward dominance across the England pack is it's like watching them we we call them rolling more this week was running more. Like they were just getting the ball and going and it was always like an internal joke of the hooker trying to get the ball off of Marley at the back of a um at the back of a mortem I was like I'm not giving you that it's going at a rate not to get my tri-stats up but to be able to see like I say you've got more than you're starting to see Sarah Byrne come on like, to be able to interchange those kind of players. It's unreal. And I like I don't see it stopping. Like you say, with the people unavailable, it's you you wouldn't be able to tell if you didn't about rugby and like you said, your mates back home are just like, Oh yeah, England's carving it up as usual and you're like, Yeah, but it's even more special than usual because because this is this and this has changed. But I I don't see I don't see anything stopping. And what that tells me is uh and again even with injuries is the intensity of training uh in their camp is constantly stepping up and they are going head to head and it is that fine balance between ripping the heads off of each other and healthy competition because so many individual head coaches get that wrong and you get it so people are trying to go against each other, maybe even trying to hurt each other, get their place on the team. You need to earn your place by taking someone else out. But Mitch has clearly got that mindset and mentality right with his forwards backs that I want you to take each other out. I want you to rip into each other because I want you to be better. Like I want you to be better for each other. I want you to bring each other up. And we're seeing that week on week. And I don't I don't see it stopping and I don't feel sorry for the backs. My fan my fantasy team does. Because I've been I've been part of an England team where like the backs score. That that's just what they do and and fine because you just want someone to score, but to see the English literally having fun, like Marley Packer on the wing, come on, from a chip a chase from Zoe Harrison, come on. That is that's cool. That's the stuff you pay to see, right? Like no, it's super special in all the across the Six Nations, so Marley Packers out the front with seven tries, then it goes Amy Coca Cain with five, and then on four, Sarah Burner there. So the top three uh top try scores in the whole six nations are English Fords there, and the third equal Berners with Parsons and Grando as well. But like I think it does show the twelve of the twelve, you know, because it's pregnancies and injuries. Yeah, it's either all Fords or basically is all Fords. And to have the English forwards still dominating like this is crazy. Like Amy Kicane last six stations only scored one try. This this year, she scored in the last seven games on the bounce. Like so even before six nations, you know, they're doing a really good job , and for me, it's like the consistency of that. It's it's it's really impressive, and I hope it stops. And now we can actually say , oh I hope it doesn't. Especially not for this week, because all roads do lead to Bordeaux . Big news. What? What is that? Our partners, Mitsubishi Electric, who have been supporting women's rugby through the pod for the last nine months are taking their parallel potential campaign to the next stage. Here we go. Ruby, we've got someone here with us to announce it all. Okay, who is it? Introduce our guy. We've got Hans York Hinkle from Mr. Missy Match. How are you? Welcome, how do you very good? Thanks for having me. And all that excitement. Wow. Did not expect that. We appreciate you here. We're gonna find out why. Great. Today you're announcing that you've partnered with the PWR and the RPA. Yeah. That's that's what we're going to do today and uh yeah, it's really great to be here and talk about it. So uh as you said, we're taking uh parallel potential to the next stage. That's mainly what we'll be doing with the RPA, but also our colleagues from uh our heating and cooling business they are the ones that are partnering with the PWR to really get in front of people and and also support uh women's rugby also in on the grassroots stage so uh so we're really proud and and really really happy to to be teaming up with uh with those two partners. The whole of Mitsubishi Electric is on board and I love it. For anyone out there who doesn't actually know, what is parallel potential and what has it achieved so far? Well parallel potential is is our idea, sort of how we as a as an enterprise can actually help women in rugby. Because I mean obviously we we it it's very different. We're not we're not coaches, we are not we don't we're not involved with the game directly, but indirectly by offering uh jobs that are tailored to uh women who are playing professional rugby, or it could be any other sport where uh sort of uh sports people still have to uh work alongside their professional uh sport. Uh that's what we want to achieve with this parallel hence the parallel in the potential. So uh we want to give meaningful opportunities uh and also encourage others to do that. Because uh obviously our uh resources are limited, we can only do that with for so many players. But if we get others involved and encouraged, and then hopefully we can we can start a I wouldn't call it a wave, but maybe some more engagement and and and giving uh women in rugby that opportunity to lift their parallel potential. We can we can call it a wave. So Hans, tell us about the the why. Why why rugby? Why women's sport? Why women's rugby? But also what's the aim of it too? Yeah. We've been in in women's sport for quite a while now. First women's golf and then got into women's rugby about three, three and a half years ago. And uh we think there's still a lot to do to support the game, uh to support women in general. And uh so we we started it from our corporate perspective where sort of we we tied up with uh World Rugby for and then obviously had this massive event with the the the the World Cup last year, which was fantastic. But now we're taking it further, we are keeping uh our parallel potential momentum going where we are looking into how we actually can support women in rock B, sort of how we get the stakeholders involved, but also we could un convince uh our colleagues on the commercial side to get involved as well. And they really have taken to it. They also see the match with our own values and and also they also have want to drive the game. They want to support women. There is women in construction where we are quite strong uh and very supportive and we want to put a focus on that and and hopefully not only help in this on the sports side but also on the commercial side. I wanna say it's a a wave of other brands. Do you expect any other brands to get involved with women's rugby in the way that you have to do Well it it would be great. I mean as as that's what we're still working on and and that's one of the things we want to do in parallel potential and it that's the reason why we teamed up with the RPA is to to hear more, to get more statistics, to get more voices out of the uh out of the games to to understand where are sort of the snack points, where can companies help, what do they need to do? So we are still in that progression. We are what we are preparing what we call a play book that we then can share with other stakeholders, so they could be companies, but it could also be clubs so that they know sort of what what companies expect of them and the players as well, obviously. So uh so yeah, that's still still going on and that will be coming in the next few months or so. But ultimately, yes, obviously the more people, the more companies, the more enterprise that get involved, the better it is. Yeah. What a great guy, bro. Like we you know, we love women's rugby, we try to grow the game on and off it as players, but there's only so much you can do and it's actually people like you in the business world and the corporate world to take those steps as well and to be trailblazers yourself. So just from from the podcast and from Sean and I, we really appreciate you, Brian. Thanks for all you're doing. Yeah, it's a pleasure. But Sean, if people want to know more, what do they do? If you want to know more about what Mitsubishi Electric and Parallel Potential Campaign is doing, there's a link in our description. Have a click, have a look . Scotland v France then half time score was 1431 to France. Full time score was twenty-eight sixty-nine to France. Four tries for Scotland, eleven for France. Our Scotland coverage is brought to you by Vodafone, official partners of Scottish rugby. Seven changes for Scotland's starting lineup. Did you see a different Scottish team, bro? Because they still put twenty-eight points on like they got a bonus point. Yes. And we just had that discussion about bonus points. Like we want to see bonus points. We want to not get to the point where we are mentioning bonus points and again completely agree with you there. People score against France. Like that's not unusual. It's just France will always be ahead. And and I say always, they're not always ahead, but by the time the final whistle goes at 80. For the second , they are generally always ahead. Even if at 75 they're behind, at 80, they will be ahead. We'd like we need them around there. Like we'd need them in our lives, bro. Uh but in terms of like what we saw from Scotland, I don't know. We are we're big Scotland fans here and we've obviously spoken to a few of the Scottish players. Honestly, I didn't I didn't see a huge difference in game plan, but that not necessarily a bad thing, because it could be the the thing and we did speak about it of England, like just sticking it and and have faith in the system. Their attacking system is working in a way, being able to score uh multiple times against France and still having a new coach like it's not we saw it last year with Wales and Sean Lynn and actually that's still coming into this year that it it takes time and you you have to spet you have to spend that time with each other you have to go through the walkthroughs, you have to do the time the, analysis. None of these things can be rushed when you'll get a new coach in, you've got seven new people on on the pitch that you you had different to last week. We spoke about there might be an issue in the thirteen channel for Scotland with uh their couple of injuries in in Emma Orr and Evie Dubs being out. But Rachel Phillips steps up, gets her first start, take a bow, scoring two tries. But again, two tries against France. I know I just said we don't really like people to score against France, but squad to. Yeah, and I think the manner of those tries too, it was just give me the ball and I'm gonna run as hard as I can. Just do the basics, do the basics really well. Kills, it works, just do it. Just catch the ball and run on, all right? Yeah, so I think you know it is worth mentioning w we had in at the beginning of the season we had Eve G, Every Gallagher, Evie Wills, Evie Dubbs, and Fram G . All of those have been having niggles and and suffering with with um injuries. So that's the new coach as well. It is worth talking about those things. But just like the English people being out , moment to shine for Rachel Phillips, and boy oh boy, did she shine. I think the Scottish team just like needed that. They needed a something cool, something up to stand up and just get someone who literally puts a hand up, give me the ball and watch what I do with it. Take the hundred percent. So I think that's really you know, that'll really take them far with the the new ones coming up and not just coming in and starting but really stepping up and it was you know that when she got the ball just out from the line she was like I'm not do I'm passing this I'm not doing nothing else I'm actually scoring a try like I'm gonna bulldoze through here so um really cool attitudes to see but, ye ah, you're right, with new coaching it t it not only takes a while for Kimishi, but it takes a while for like buy-in. And to have that many senior players like Ronald Lloyd out, you know, like it's it's a big ass for these younger players to come up and buy into a brand new system where they essentially will become the leaders on in a few years. But yeah, Rachel Phillips out of sale. How many Scottish stars we've seen come out of sale there? Hey so something's going well. Hey those Scottish sharks and coming out here just nipping people on the getting a couple tries of that so I think that's cool PWR prime in Scotland to get some some new blood new blood and that's cool. Uh one of the great French tries in the game came from fullback Pauline Barra at the start of the second half and you're smiling because you know what I'm gonna I'm not gonna ask you about the try. I'm not gonna ask you about the gameplay leading up to it and how swift and and lovely it all was. The diving over that 'cause we we also swe again, we don know't what we're talking about about. We spoke it with um we spoke about it with Claude Maloney MacDonald laughing and the style of change of her game and England's game and now France are going, alright, fine, we'll we'll go back to that fancy stuff. Watch me now. But when do you decide to dive? I assume you've scored a few dive and drive. And I say I assume I've already got this video in my head of you just diving for no reason as well. Which like I'm all for it 'cause I I love a show boat. I I've heard there's people in this world who think it's not cool you should just put the ball down. But I'm not one of them, Ruby. I think if you want to fly and do the old ash splash as we used to call it, um do it. But when particularly when you you're very aware of where the touchline is, when do you decide to dive and when do you think I'm just gonna put my shoulder in and bash and hope for the best? I've actually seen you do a couple of dives too this one. Me putting that out there not me, mate. Diving over the try-line like that. Uh I think because I remember that try vividly because of the celebrations, like Pauline runs in, grabs and they had massive smiles on their face. So that what that tells me, like when we used to do that stuff, was when something we had planned or trialled at training just comes off like magic broke . When that happens, man Oh my god like I remember there's this move um that we tro we started in the Black Friends Evans in like 20 like 15 or like very long time. How long did it take? And it didn't come off until the Tokyo Olympics row. And you'll just see it was like a nothing trial, like it was fine, like we weren't winning, but it wasn't that great. But we ran and jumped, and you know, we're like wha 'cause it was a kick play that I dotted it down with. So when that stuff comes off in a game, oh I'm all for a big dive and a big celebration, bro. Like I was so gutted when the rule change came in about shortening the conversion time. Yeah. Because all that did was shorten our celebration time. But that's the best part about fifth things, just running it for the hug after the bloody try. So I think something special maybe happened. You know, maybe they said something in shadow like we must score off the first play of the second half, or something came off because the celebration and the dive was just it was too much bus. It was it was really cool. But also, can we just say for the the haters on the dive, tactically there is met um there is a reason. Th isere a reason to dive . Sometimes the only way you're gonna put that ball down in touch is if you dive. So you know, there's there's actual tactics to the dive as well. We just need to shout out dive some love. I think Claudia's one was a bit of a tactical one too. Um but yeah, that dive from uh from the French fullback on the weekend was it was a special one. Yeah. It was a special one. I mean you know pull those ones out of special occasions. Magnifique. Our third game of the weekend, Ireland v. Wells. Halftime score 19-7 to Ireland. Full time score 33-12 to Ireland. Ireland uh looking consistent, composed, confident, and I I think we are starting to see that identity build from them, and actually, part of me, when I was watching it, I thought, what would it have been if Ireland were playing France the this week, the weekend just gone? Would that have been a different score line and like it was a tough start into six nations for Ireland, which you know the you've got to get used to that's just the nature of the beast. You have to be able to perform week in, week out. But when you're a team who potentially doesn't have as much time together as as say like in England and you do need that game time to build into it, I just think I I see it. I'm I'm still such an island fan. I actually I love watching them play, love watching them develop and finally seeing what like they're a stacked team. Names on paper, they are stacked. And that result against England would have been disappointing for them. But finally it's like, oh, it's working. We're settling in. We're getting to know each other. We're doing game by game and we're here and they are going to be in their best place, I would suggest next week. Yeah, I've really enjoyed watching them. They will be kicking themselves about their France game. Just the nature of it too, with the just not quite finishing three tries in the first half, you know. So I think I love the way you put that. New the identity has been built. I I totally agree in this this team seemed quite tight. You know, the the likes of Parsons and Flood seemed really committed to the 15s program . Um, you know in the the back row is just something out of this world like uh let me three guesses who you want to talk about go just talk about it just go just talk about it I wish I knew in the middle name because I could do my three guesses as a three names . Eva, have you got middle name? What is it so I can start using it, please? Thank you. Uh player of the match. Sorry, for anyone, in this not even an inside joke, it's a podcast joke. I am global chief of the EFA Wafer fan club. Self-appointed, by the way. Um, we are taking subscription, but it is a paid membership. If you want to be a part of it, uh, go to my website for more details on that. So , EFA Wafer, player of the match at two tries . I'm gonna ask you what makes her so good. Cause I I will obviously share what I think, but particularly from your eyes as a winger who I don't know if you appreciate us sometimes. You say you do, but whatever . What what makes her so good? Do you know what I'm I'm actually gonna leave the Eva way for focus on on you m mostly because I actually think and I think AIFA, like knowing her, she would want me to say this and agree with me. It's all three of them. King, Wafer, and Hogan. I think are the best, most consistent back rower in the comp. Like, I know that's a big call. There's a lot of great back rowers, but they are doing amazing things. Hogan's got two tries as well. King top tr top tr uh tackler in the whole comp, uh young captain, and it's not slowing her down. And I think the key to her being a successful captain at the moment, 'cause she's handling it really great, is is Wafering and Hogan. Uh the solid beasts. Solid beasts through them. I okay, look, there's one thing though, there was a moment in the game. So in rugby, either the half pick of the first five passes to the dominant forward who's standing out the front of the pack. They grab the ball and they usually go through. But they have two options. They can pass inside or they could pass out. You can pass to the backs, but they don't. that ball and dummied the inside outside pass and goes straight through bro I was like you're on another level psych you're on another level like that carry through the middle was you know so that the fact she can ball play as well as score tries, tackle, steal . I mean, it's it's pretty impressive. And to to stand out when you've got Wall, Hogan, and King around you and she still stands out. Okay, you okay, you go very well I I I'd go um Rick Hogan first just because one of her tries, it's who' its my was type of try. There's like everyone's doing hard work picking and going, the line's just right there. Grunt work. She just sort of goes up to the back of the ruck, picks up the ball, and just puts the ball down. I knew you're gonna say that try. I knew you were gonna put it try. She's got so much time for that. Like she's basically stood up still as well. I was like, girls, come on now. Easy route. Where's the space? Like John Mitchell said, Where's the space? I just go, oh, there it is. But um yeah, Ethel Wafer, I she probably won't thank me for saying this, but this is how I think, and I think more women should think like this. She plays with an arrogance. She plays with an arrogance where she knows she is one of the best ball carriers on that team. That team needs her to carry. And so again, she embraces her job. She does when she carries, we obviously celebrate. Well I celebrate every time she carries, she's such a special carrier, she's got the fen, the ball's in the correct hand, she goes low, except all of the basics. But when she does that time and time again, it is so tiring. Like I at Quins, I was always one of the high school carriers. So it's just a bit of that arrogance I think we should all show. Always at least top three anyway. And um But that that was my job, right? And if that dropped off, then I I've not done my job. But equally, I can't do that without people clearing out over the top of me. So at Quinza a few years ago, we used to I used to play with a secondary called Free Fletcher and she was proper like club storeward and she was, you know, it's just consistently. She was always there. She would say, she would say she doesn't do anything special, like she just comes, controls the line out like seamlessly, um, and just does lots of clear-outs. This girl would clear out about fifty times a game. Wow. And like my stats would be celebrated because I'd carry like 30 plus times in a game. But actually I'm celebrating feet because I can't do my job if she's not doing her job. So yes, Eva Waifer , Global Chief, fanlub c, always not always doing the right thing. Nobody always does the right thing. But it's that being able to dominate, step up, even when you've got your other dominant ball carriers around you. I'll take it, please. This is my turn. And actually, when you have got other dominant ball carriers, you can take it in turns because it can be really, really tiring. You're when you're like one of two or three in a forward back who is dependent on to carry. And and yes, she is the ball carrier, one of the ball carriers I would suggest Ireland's best ball carrier. But funny you need a Sometimes you do need a break because I remember and playing there'd be I'd be in the middle doing my thing carrying the ball and Rachel Burford who was a 12 at Harlequins at the time for us. I know beef. And she um she would say go on have five minutes and like she's not telling me to sub off. Like I'm not it's not rolling subs like we're not we're not 12 again but she would just let me have a little time on the wing, and I just needed a little five-minute breather, and she was like, Right, time's up back in you go, like another 10 carries in a row. So yeah, I um she is becoming unstoppable. Her rugby IQ is going through the roof, her consistency also, like it's not a coincidence that she's now at Harlequins and she's playing the best rugby she's ever played. She has been able to play the most games in a row she has ever done in her career. And that's because the system at at Quinn's uh and Island is now looking after her. They're adapting to her as a player and realizing like she's not she's not a selfish ball carrier. She's not this, she's not that. She is just doing her job incredibly well, which enables other people's jobs around them to be It's official. The only thing Sean will talk longer about than the ball size is E4 wafer. Okay, look, I just there's a lot of chat about the Fords in that game, but I just as a back want to shout out the 10 battle of that game. So Wales versus France, Clacky George versus Darno Bryan, and I think you know they're two of the next best 10s if you look outside that Red Roses pack, and boy, oh boy, that was a kick battle. And I know as a four, you're like, oh let's kick the ball back forth. No, they weren't man. It was it was a territory battle and the first one, you know, Dan ended up making George kick it out just full twenty-two because he George was not happy with that. George took it upon herself to make sure she gets a fifty-22 . And then, I know you saw that one. She does a kick passes. She got attacking passes as well. For Jess Joyce to go over in the corner. Oh, sorry. Do I fall asleep when you go on about rolling moors? It wasn't rolling, it was running. I stay with you in the room. You can listen to my kick medal. You can listen to my damn kick bedding between George and I burn . It wasn't rolling, it was running. Oh, let's talk about the mall again, bruh. The kick battle in the Irish and Wales game did not was not reflective in the score. I think it was much more even because of Clanky George. It was awesome. Best game of the week? Ooh . That game too though, I think Wales were stunned because of Irish's the Ireland's rushing defence in the first twenty, like they couldn't go nowhere. So I th and that was your that was your mates too, the Ford's doing that? You buddy! What was the best game? Oh, that's a hard one . Well, I I did actually go into this round saying it would be Ireland Wales and I did really enjoy it. It was lots of buffo and bantering. I loved it. It was a good game. This episode is brought to you by Royal London, the founding partner of the first ever British and Irish Lions Women's Tour. The first tour is happening in 2027 down in New Zealand, which is Ruby's hometown. So we're gonna take you through Lion's Watch and think about who might be on that plane come twenty twenty seven. And today we're talking back row. That's the six, seven and eight. Lose Ford Trio. Okay. Let me just ask you, firstly, because I know you want to rip in and I got three guesses who you're gonna say anyway. Uh what are we looking for in these positions and what does success look like? In layman's terms. Your back row physically are you heavy ball carriers? They are doing the work. Whether you notice it or not, they are doing the hard work. Turnovers is a huge part of a back rows game. Um, but also mentally, I think you've got to be a bit different to be in the back row. You've got to you're almost like a center in the forward pack and you have to you I think you have to have the arrogance. You have to believe you're better than your opposite number. But also the chat in the scrum, I mean it doesn't get talked about a lot, but it's a huge part of being a back row to be able to get your forwards, your your type five up every single scrum. Okay, let's name some names here. Who's really stood up in this sixth nation as a back rower We've actually se aen lot of injuries this season, unfortunately. So who has stepped in within the Six Nations to you? Just want to surprise you all and go for Ireland . I'm gonna go. Does it rhyme with Schweifer? No, Brittany Hogan! What are you? No, I'm joking. Both but both of them both of them would be outstanding. I have to stay true to Eva Wafer. She has delivered time and time again. She's not stopped. She has the arrogance about her. She has that gimme the ball carry. She is the stand-up one. But also she is the person. If she is having a good game, the rest of her team are having a good game. And for me, you have to have that person on your team as often as humanly possible. Gee, that's scary. A scary thought. Like Eva Wafer in there with Fionnati, you know, like all the rest of Matthews. Like that's imagine that. I think the cool thing about Wafer is like, to me, I like I could be wrong, but she just feels like a for sure in, which outside of that Red Roses bunch, especially if Mitch is gonna be the coach, which we don't know, but you know, if there's a lot of that setup going on, it's really cool to say a name and be like, No, like she has to be in this team. And I think Hogan has been amazing. Yeah. I think Waifer H,ogan, and King all deserve a shout out. Talked about them this episode, most consistent back row. Uh I think Ireland are in this positional group have to be I'd take all three of them if if I had to choose, I would take all three of them, keep them together and watch them continue to grow and smash it in the lions. Scotland? Who's stood out for you? I'd go Kubra and she is one of the newer Scotland players, but she keeps standing up and she keeps doing the job. And EVG's out and and so she had to take in that position and in the back row at eight and and it it's that thing of not doing the special things. She is just constantly there and you can if you watch d kind of everyone watches in a different way, right? I I watch body actions a and movements. And if you watch her speaking, like she's always going at her her teammates in the right way and it's that thing of getting other people up and even if you're not having the best game and you know that in yourself there's still a part of you who can bring the best out of others and I think seeing her do that week in week out and scoring as well makes me want to put Kuber on the plane too. I love that and similarly that's why from Wales I would chuck in the name Bethon Lewis. So Wales captain obviously was injured early, which was a shame. So she's actually had to step up as captain. And you know, not having any heads up about that and having to play the rest of the season, still be consistent. I still notice her actions off the ball as well. Ruby, it's your favourite activity to do. Have you got an English player for me? Look, I just can't go past most experienced player in the starting lineup at the moment for Red Bros. Marley Packer. Her form's just through the roof. And I think sh maybe a couple of years ago you wouldn't have but you have to now tuck your name in Lions watch back row before we go next weekend is super Sunday that one threw you off, didn't it?' Weve got Wales v Italy in Cardiff, twelve fifteen kickoff, Ireland v Scotland in a viva stadium in Dublin, two hundred thirty kickoff, and deciding game for the Grand Slam France v England in the Stad Antic League at 445. England are chasing their eighth women's six nations title, fifth consecutive Grand Slams. If England get their eighth, they set a new record, previous one was seven, also set by them, forty-two thousand seater stadium. And I've never been to Bordeaux, so it's gonna be an absolute banger, isn't it? Where are you watching it? I'm going Bordeaux, baby. Woo I uh Vin Rouge, you know, like I'm I'm really gonna get amongst it. And I've heard such big things about the women's six nations games in France. Unreal. As a as a player, honestly. I'm so excited. It's yeah. France do rug women's rugby very well. They you take it in, you get literally local village, community, town, everyone's there, and they all feel very personal about the game. So you're gonna love it, and you're gonna love the noise as well. Were you gonna watch the game? I'm going down to see a friend in Devon. So France. No , it's South France. It's the southwest part of the country. So we're gonna just sit down. We're gonna go probably watch it in a pub, I assume. Yeah. Maybe even find a local club and watch it there. Okay, go ahead. I'll have I'll have another wholesome one. I'll I'll send you some pics. Before we go, do you think England have been holding anything back that we will be seeing on Sunday? Yes, I I do. think they've been holding back attacking a couple of attacking moves for them and their defence I think will have to be different because of the flair that the French play with. I d I think France will be unconventional like we expect, but I think England, yeah. Got a couple of things in their back pocket, I'm excited. That's it. Round four, done. So there's only one more round to go. So get in our comments. What do you want to see from us in next week's episode? It will be our last record toget her for the six nations so any last questions concerns queries get them in now please we will read them all and we will do something about it. We love you so much. Bye . Bye. Kakite. Woo! This episode was brought to you by Ro London, the founding partner of the first ever British and Irish Lions women's tour. We love you . 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