Mitchell risks reputation by picking Lomu and Cullen

John Mitchell, the former All Black flanker whose 31-month stint as England's assistant coach was characterised by a philosophical aversion towards giving a sucker an even break, yesterday included both Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen, two of the more notable flops in this season's Super 12 competition, in New Zealand's first Test squad of the year. Mitchell's decision means Lomu is unlikely to play in the Commonwealth Games sevens tournament in August, and wipes out any chance of Cullen moving to a European club in the immediate future.

New Zealand rugby circles had been rife with the rumour that Cullen, in particular, would fail to make the cut for the forthcoming Tests with Italy and Ireland, not to mention the Tri-Nations series. But if Mitchell, less than a year into his stint as national coach, has suddenly discovered a sentimental side to his nature, he has no intention of giving the two biggest names in the New Zealand game an easy ride over the coming weeks.

"I would be the first to admit, and I'm sure they would too, that they haven't been playing to their own high standards," he said. "But people should understand that they have the mentality to play Test rugby. I am prepared to put my neck out here and work with these two players. I communicated with them through the Super 12 and we have sat down together and created a plan of action. Their entry, or re-entry, into Test rugby will come down to the success of our development work over the next few weeks. They have an enormous amount of work to do, as do I."

Reuben Thorne, the Canterbury flanker who led his province to the Super 12 title with a comprehensive victory over the ACT Brumbies at the weekend, will captain the Blacks against Italy on 8 June. He succeeds the injured Otago hooker, Anton Oliver, having beaten Tana Umaga and the recalled Taine Randell to the role. Oliver, who has damaged an Achilles tendon, will be on the casualty slab for at least three months, and if Thorne brings home the Tri-Nations bacon this summer, it is possible he will take Mitchell's side into the 2003 World Cup.

Fifteen of the party have been drawn from the Canterbury squad. More strikingly still, 20 of the 26 players ply their trade in the south island, and this completes a remarkable shift in the balance of power in New Zealand rugby. Auckland, the dominant force for so long, are represented only by the wing Doug Howlett and the prop Kees Meeuws, while the loose forward Marty Holah is the sole inclusion from Mitchell's native Waikato.

Rob Henderson has been ruled out of Ireland's two-Test tour of New Zealand next month because of injury. Henderson, who played for Munster in their Heineken Cup final defeat against Leicester on Saturday, is out of action with a shin problem.

Scotland, who tour North America this summer, have lost the services of the Saracens hooker, Robbie Russell, who cried off yesterday with back trouble. Steve Brotherstone, of Newcastle, who played in the famous Murrayfield victory over England two years ago, will replace him.

Clive Woodward, the England manager, will name his 30-strong party for the two-match trip to Argentina at Twickenham today. Phil Vickery, of Gloucester, has already been confirmed as captain, and it will be a serious shock to the system if at least four of his Kingsholm colleagues – James Simpson-Daniel, Andy Gomarsall, Trevor Woodman and James Forrester – are not invited to accompany the Lions tight-head prop to Buenos Aires.