Street signalled his intention to the ring the changes in the four years before the next World Cup after calling nine new faces into his 44-strong squad for the current campaign.

But after every single member of last season’s squad put their hands up for selection once more, Spencer, the Bristol No.8, has pleaded with Street not to cut the experienced heads adrift.

“I think it is good that everyone is looking to carry on and I think the girls who came so close at the last World Cup deserve the chance to have another go,” said Spencer, speaking at the Aviva and Daily Telegraph School Sport Matters Awards.

“We had a side capable of winning the tournament and that doesn’t just change overnight but we are all aware that there are a lot of young talented players coming through.

“I think the competition is only going to get stronger because of the way we hosted the World Cup in the summer and how we managed to capture the public’s imagination.

“It will make it tougher and tougher in the future but that is good for the game in this country.

“I think the players who played in the World Cup final will be desperate to make up for losing the final and they will be a really motivated group so it is going to be hard for anyone to break them up.”

The 13-10 World Cup final defeat in September was a case of history repeating for Spencer after forming part of the side who lost 17-25 to the Black Ferns four years earlier in Canada.

And despite earning a re-call to Street’s squad for this winter and next year’s Six Nations, Spencer admits she’s struggling to shrug off the disappointment of her latest heartbreak.

“I definitely haven’t got over the loss in the final and I doubt I ever will because I haven’t got over the previous one,” added Spencer.

“Even now when I am going about routine tasks I am still thinking about things I could have done differently in the final and there are things that are still nagging at me.

“It is hard and being honest it is hard to go back to the grind of domestic rugby as well because there is a huge gulf in class.

“I know I have to get back into it though and unfortunately over the past few years we have had to pick ourselves up and carry on and I am confident we can do it again because we are a strong and talented group.”