"A match of national and international significance."
That's how former British & Irish Lions and Wales wing Shane Williams sees the opening game of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition on Saturday.
The Highlanders will host the Chiefs as New Zealand rugby steals a march on the rest of the rugby world by resuming competition in the revamped series – the first since shutdowns were applied around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Williams, writing in his Rugby Paper column, said: "You have to take your hats off to New Zealand for the way they have not only handled the coronavirus crisis, but also the way they have gone about getting rugby back on the field."
Williams might live on the other side of the world but he said if, as expected New Zealand moved to Level 1 on Monday, rugby will also have crowds in attendance, another first for international sport.
The eyes of other rugby administrators were on New Zealand, Williams said.
"Let's hope everything goes well and we can start planning for our players to safely return sooner rather than later.
"What helps the New Zealand cause is their performance as a country during the pandemic. I briefly scanned the figures on Friday and they show the stark difference between the major rugby playing nations – and why we have to be very cautious in our approach to returning to action."
Williams compared the death tolls in the respective rugby countries: New Zealand 22, Australia 102, South Africa 848, Wales 1379, Britain 39,904, France 29,065 and Italy 33,689.
While Super Rugby has often been criticised, Williams demonstrated its appeal in the north.
"I'll be glued to the TV next weekend with my son watching the big game. He loves the Chiefs and the Crusaders and knows as many of their players as he does the Ospreys and Scarlets," he said.
But Williams was also intrigued by Dan Carter signing with the Blues. News of his signing with the franchise had helped stop all the talk of coronavirus and social distancing, he said.
"Everyone has been discussing whether or not Carter will bring out the best in new team-mate Beauden Barrett. Who wouldn't want to see one of the greatest rugby players of all-time back in action for one last time on home soil?"
Williams said there would also be a lot of interest in the application of the laws being touted for the competition renewal and it had been a master-class in marketing.
"I'd have loved to have had the opportunity to play Super Rugby.
"It is a showcase for attacking intent, creative skills and a never-say-die attitude. What I love about it is that even if a side is 20, or sometimes even 30, points down they keep on going for it and find a way to hit back," he said.