Exciting twist for historic southern hemisphere rivals

As New Zealand and South Africa's men's and women's sides prepare to meet on the same day, it's clear that familiarity is far from breeding contempt

- writes Harry Latham-Coyle

The best part of 12,000 miles separates Exeter's Sandy Park and Wellington's Sky Stadium as a (presumably very tired) crow would fly, but on Saturday, the two arenas will provide the shared stage for a strange sort of sporting double-header. About three hours after the All Blacks and Springboks settle scores old and new in a men's Rugby Championship clash, New Zealand and South Africa's women's sides will kick off the Women's Rugby World Cup quarterfinals in a collision of contrasts that it is hoped will set the tone for the last-eight ties to come.

While their men's sides are regular and fierce foes in the Rugby Championship and beyond, the rarity of meetings between the Black Ferns and the Springbok Women speaks to the difference in development of the other half of the game in the two nations. While Kiwis and Saffas jawed regularly over their respective World Cup records before the 2023 men's final that saw South Africa edge ahead with a record fourth crown, New Zealand's six women's titles stand apart from a Springbok Women's side that did not even enter the 2017 tournament.

But slowly, yet surely, things are changing, and a sleeping giant of women's rugby is beginning to stir.

Senior figures at World Rugby have been pleasantly surprised by the rise of South Africa at this tournament, an upset of Italy securing their first-ever quarterfinal berth and diversifying the last-eight lineup significantly. Under the unorthodox coaching of Swys de Bruin, South Africa have played intricate, imaginative rugby but also recognised their strengths - the power and guile of forwards like Aseza Hele and Sinazo Mcatshulwa marrying with the sevens skillsets of Ayanda Malinga and Nadine Roos.