World Rugby can pat themselves on the back for the part they’ve played in this, as the instigator of the Pacific Four Series and WXV, which is undergoing another evolution this year. Gone are the three tiers of silverware and in their place the new WXV Global Series.
This WXV Global Series sees World Rugby taking the training wheels off.
They set the window that test matches can be played in and the top 12 nations decide how they will fill it.
Credit here to New Zealand Rugby who have taken the ball and run with it.
The Black Ferns will follow the All Blacks to South Africa, to play their emerging rivals alongside the men’s greatest, then go further north to play France, and Scotland before facing England at Twickenham.
Following this, France will return to Aotearoa with the Black Ferns to play a final three-match series.
This full schedule requires a full roster. Unsurprising then that Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen is focused on developing the depth of talent.
In the two squads, there were three line calls that speak to these pressure points.
Loosehead Ngano Tavake was given the chance of a Black Ferns debut over the recall of her Poua teammate Angel Mulu.
Elinor-Plum King’s form with Matatū leapfrogged her over Blues star flanker Taufa Bason.
And sevens stalwart Alena Saili returns to the team after seven years, edging out her Matatū captain Grace Brooker for a spin in the midfield.
These match-ups will be watched closely by fans and coaches.
Mulu, Bason and Brooker all have the potential to upset end-of-year plans in the same way. Or at the very least, will want to leave an impression as Tavake, King and Saili are tested at the highest level.
The big omissions from the two squads are the Hurricanes Poua’s Nos 9 and 10, Iritana Hohaia and Renee Holmes.
Hohaia stepped back from rugby before the Aupiki season started. Taking the pressure off may have contributed to her strong form. Regardless, Hohaia for now is returning to her career as a constable in Taranaki.
Holmes, meanwhile, is continuing her year of experimentation.
After successfully transitioning to first five-eighths, she has decided to give sevens a go.
Holmes’ move is an example of our new hybrid athlete which the rejigged calendar had promised. With the Olympic Games the next big thing on the horizon, more of our top talent will no doubt be chasing that dream.
Thankfully though, this closer relationship between programmes is allowing the talent to flow both ways.
Justine McGregor was a standout performer in a fairly disappointing season for the Chiefs Manawa.
Now as she combines with the Black Ferns backline, we will see just how good she can be.
Sports columnist Alice Soper is a former provincial rugby player and current club coach, she has a particular interest in telling stories of the emerging world of women’s sports.