All the squad have been involved in this season’s Super 14 campaign and they will include several survivors from the side that beat the Lions 19-13 in 2005. They also have the chance to catch the eye of All Blacks coach Graham Henry with places still up for grabs on the fringes of the New Zealand squad for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Coach Donny Stevenson insisted the Barclays Churchill Cup holders will provide a formidable challenge again as they attempt to secure a third straight title on their first visit to Twickenham in 81 years.

“We’ve lost some key people but this is as strong a side as we can field given that the All Blacks and the Junior All Blacks are in action,” he said. “We’ve got some pretty talented boys here, including the likes of Rua Tipoki the captain, Angus Macdonald, who played against Scotland and Wales here in 2004, Hosea Gear, Anthony Tahana and Liam Messam, another up and comer who’s the New Zealand Sevens captain.

“It’s an exciting mix with 11 new caps and a pool of experienced boys and plenty who are familiar of with the Churchill Cup – with three games in eight days it’s a real challenge.

“There are lots of Maori players over here like Bruce Reihana and Carlos Spencer at Northampton and we hope we can catch up with all the ex-pat Kiwis who are over here at Northampton.”

On Monday the Maori visited the sport's birthplace at Rugby School. Speaking at the school, Peter Potaka, the New Zealand Maori team manager said, "This is fantastic for the boys. As soon as I told them we were going to the school and mentioned William Webb Ellis they all sat up and paid attention. There is so much history and tradition here that it is really interesting and a very special experience for us all.  We don't have this kind of history in New Zealand and there is a great auro here at the school."