Is Churchill Cup a final fling for Gibbes?

It is not yet clear whether this morning's Churchill Cup final between New Zealand Maori and Scotland A will be the final national representative action for Jono Gibbes.

The All Black, Chiefs and Waikato lock/flanker was said to have signed for the Ospreys in Wales to play alongside former All Black halfback Justin Marshall next season. But there has been recent confusion over Gibbes' signing - supposedly made when he was left out of the All Black plans for the test series against Ireland and Argentina.

Waikato disputed that Gibbes had signed and, as his contract is set to run for the first full season of the new Air New Zealand Cup, there were contentions that Gibbes wouldn't be going anywhere.

But it seems likely that Gibbes - who hasn't commented publicly - has signed and that it is a matter of securing an early release from his NZRU contract so he can move to Wales, where Ospreys say they want him to start training in August.

That makes it likely that today's clash with Scotland A will be Gibbes' last in the black of a New Zealand representative jersey and probably his last in a jersey with any New Zealand connections.

If it is to be Gibbes' last outing, he will do so in the company of many Maori colleagues with whom he has played in the Chiefs - including Anthony Tahana, Liam Messam, Scott Linklater, Kristian Ormsby and Deacon Manu.

Coach Donny Stevenson has named an unchanged starting line-up with the only change in the reserves where Southland's Pehi Te Whare replaces Wellington's outside back Cory Jane, who has gone home for the birth of his child.

New Zealand Maori beat Ireland A 27-6 last weekend to reach the final after thumping the US 74-6 and Stevenson said the team had a satisfactory build-up to the final.

"We came through our two pool games really well and we're excited about the contest against Scotland A. They beat England on the way to the final so they are a team that deserves respect," he said.

"They have a good pack that can get them front-foot ball so we have to stand up in that area and take that advantage away from them."

NZ Maori: Shannon Paku, Anthony Tahana, Richard Kahui, Neil Brew, Hosea Gear, Callum Bruce, Chris Smylie, Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Jono Gibbes (captain), Paul Tito, Kristian Ormsby, Deacon Manu, Scott Linklater, Joe McDonnell. Reserves: Pehi Te Whare, Matt Berquist, Corey Tamou, Jake Paringatai, Thomas Waldrom, Mike Noble, Luke Mahoney.