Nothing can dampen the enthusiasm.
Not Covid-19. Not a truncated season. Not bubble life in Taupo.
And not even a delayed start.
Super Rugby Aupiki was scheduled to begin on Saturday but the old enemy has forced a delay.
New Zealand Rugby made the decision to push back the start date to March 10 after the Blues were forced to pull out of the opening round because they had players who were isolating or who had Covid.
There will still be some rugby this weekend. The Chiefs Manawa, Hurricanes Poua and Matatu will play a game of three halves instead.
The revised format will feature games played across the three match days scheduled for March 10, March 15 and March 20.
The final has been scrapped, and the winner will now be crowned based on competition points.
NZR general manager of professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said with the evolving Covid landscape, this move was best for the competition.
"Our hope is that by delaying the start of the competition for an extra few days, we’ll see players able to return into the environment after recovering from Covid-19, and Super Rugby Aupiki will play out in the bubble," he said.
Before that news broke, the Otago Daily Times spoke to Matatu coach Blair Baxter, who was looking forward to the tournament getting under way.
"It is just so exciting. It has been a long time coming," he said.
It certainly has. Super Rugby launched in 1996, so fans have had to wait 26 years before something similar emerged for women.
This is the first wobbly step towards professionalism for women’s rugby in New Zealand and Baxter said his side had a sense of being part of history.
"It was a really special moment to sit back and go, wow, this is starting to become a reality. The dream has come alive."
The competition is not perfect, though. It had to be shortened and the whole tournament will now be staged in Taupo.
That decision was made to mitigate the risk of Covid.
Baxter would not say whether anyone in Matatu had tested positive for Covid-19.
"We are dodging and weaving to do everything we can so that is doesn’t impact us.
"The girls are sacrificing heaps. Some of the mums we have in the team have moved out of home all so they reduce the risk.
"There are lots of people making big sacrifices to ensure we are on that plane together."
Matatu shapes as a strong contender.
The bulk of the squad is part of the Canterbury team that has been so dominant.
"There is a large group from Canterbury, and that is a good thing. We’ve got cohesion, we’ve got connections, we’ve got understanding.
"But everyone from outside of Canterbury that has come in adds a real point of difference."
That cohesion, he mentions, will be very handy given the limited build-up.
Another key, in such a compressed season, will be managing recovery and spreading the workload.
"The recovery will be paramount. If you pick up injuries or have Covid impact, you’ll be on struggle street."
Baxter is confident there is depth in the squad to cover any losses.
He will be able to call on an all-Black Ferns front row of Pip Love, Georgia Ponsonby and Amy Rule.
The ranks have been boosted by the arrival of Australians Michaela Leonard (lock) and Arabella McKenzie (first five).
There is talent out wide as well and experience halfback Kendra Cocksedge is there to make sure they get the ball.
