Ahead of the Nations Championship clash against Italy in Turin, Willemse sat down with Rugby365 to discuss two things: managing the physical toll of a mid-season Test window, and what he sees as an increasingly decisive part of the modern game — the high-ball contest. On the latter, he's direct: Law 9.4's strict enforcement has fundamentally changed the aerial battle by stripping out escort play and making it a genuine one-on-one skill contest. Willemse believes that shifts the premium onto timing and cleanness of catch — getting airborne before contact becomes possible — and says it's something that demands daily work, not occasional attention. For a player who takes particular pride in his aerial game, he sees the law trend as a welcome development. The piece also touches on the squad's week in Turin: heavy recovery load after the Ulster clash, then reintegrating players from different club systems across the globe before Saturday's Test.