Coach Matt Te Pou was buzzing today, having finally had the chance to announce a full-strength New Zealand Maori rugby team.
In his 11 years as Maori coach, Te Pou has been consistently denied the chance as many of his best players plied their trade with the All Blacks.
This year he has precedence over the All Blacks to prepare his best team to take on the British and Irish Lions and said it was "certainly" the strongest of his tenure.
Waikato and Chiefs skipper Jono Gibbes is one of 12 past and current All Blacks in the squad to face Fiji on June 3 in Suva and the Lions in Hamilton on June 11.
"It's great to see we're all pulling in the same direction," said Te Pou of his relationship with All Blacks coach Graham Henry over recent weeks.
"During the professional era it's very difficult to do that (name the strongest team) of course."
Every squad member played Super 12 rugby this year, including in-form winger Rico Gear, who has scored a competition record-equalling 14 tries for the Crusaders this year.
Gibbes and Gear are leading contenders for All Blacks squad selection, along with prop Carl Hayman, flanker Marty Holah, fullback Leon MacDonald and hooker Corey Flynn.
Te Pou said his initial focus was on the Fiji game, where organisation and set pieces would be most important.
First five-eighth Carlos Spencer, sidelined for more than a month with injury, won't feature in Suva. He will be in London that weekend playing for Jonah Lomu's team in the Martin Johnson testimonial game.
Te Pou said Spencer would be considered for the Lions clash, his last in New Zealand before taking up a contract with Northampton, but his selection for the Waikato Stadium match was not set in stone.
"It's a matter of him coming back to fitness so we'll be watching that game that he plays over in England," Te Pou said.
"When he comes back he's up for selection. If he comes back injury-free then we can name him in the loop. But that's yet to be seen."
There are eight players who have never pulled on a New Zealand Maori jersey -- forwards Holah, Daniel Braid, Angus MacDonald, and Thomas Waldrom and backs Neil Brew, Tamati Ellison, Luke McAlister and Piri Weepu.
Taranaki lock Paul Tito and Bay of Plenty loose forward Wayne Ormond had have been named in the squad but will be released for their provinces' respective matches against the Lions.
It means Ormond would not play in Suva as he will captain Bay of Plenty in the Lions' tour-opener at Rotorua on June 4.
The squad assemble in Auckland on Monday next week for a two-day training camp before leaving for Fiji.
Two players are still to be added to the squad.
Squad:
Backs: Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Shannon Paku (Wellington), Neil Brew (Otago), Rico Gear (Nelson Bays), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Rua Tipoki (Bay of Plenty), Tamati Ellison (Wellington), Riki Flutey (Wellington), David Hill (Waikato), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Carlos Spencer (Auckland), Craig McGrath (North Harbour), Piri Weepu (Wellington).
Forwards: Wayne Ormond (Bay of Plenty), Thomas Waldrom (Wellington), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Marty Holah (Waikato), Jono Gibbes (captain, Waikato), Angus MacDonald (Auckland), Paul Tito (Taranaki), Sean Hohneck (Waikato), Deacon Manu (Waikato), Greg Feek (Canterbury), Carl Hayman (Otago), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Scott Linklater (Waikato).
Two players to be added.
NZPA