New Zealand's ability, as a nation, to make inroads in the fight against Covid-19 should bring many benefits, not least on the rugby field.
As Super Rugby franchises prepare for an in-house series starting in June, and ending in August, with the Mitre 10 Cup competition to start later in the year, New Zealand will have a solid playing base should Test matches be played in November against Australia.
There is also the likelihood that club rugby will also enjoy a belated, and truncated, start to its season up and down the country.
Opponents overseas are looking at the New Zealand situation with some envy.
South Africans have learned that because of the Covid-19 situation in their country club rugby is unlikely to be played in 2020 at all.
South African administrators are waiting to hear back from their government when return-to-play protocols can be put in place.
It is likely South Africa's best hopes for a return to play will be in August at the earliest, and there is no guarantee of that.
Meanwhile, National Party leader Simon Bridges has been misrepresenting rugby's situation in his criticism of Government rules restricting funerals to only 10 mourners while claiming rugby can be 'played' by more than 10.
Rugby is not being played. When the country moves to Level 2 of the Covid-19 response, rugby players will only be allowed to return to 'training' and with specific protocols surrounding how many players can work in training pods.
That's a lot different to 30 players taking part in a game, something that will happen in mid to late-June when the country is presumably in Level 1.
It defies belief, but is not surprising, that Bridges is lacking in the basic understanding of these protocols.
For weeks the only sports news on the country's bulletins has surrounded what the Warriors have been going through to return to play in the NRL. On every occasion, the point has been made that players are only working in restricted groups while meeting the requirements of Australian Government quarantine rules.
Bridges has demonstrated another example of politicians attempting to use a sporting analogy to their advantage while at the same time attempting to diminish rugby as for some reason being placed in a position of privilege.