Fullback Christian Cullen will not be called into the All Black squad to face South Africa next Saturday, according to a newspaper report today.
Cullen, who is recovering from knee surgery, starred in Wellington's 35-17 win over Taranaki in the national provincial championship (NPC) match on Friday, scoring two tries and setting up another in the match - his first since the Super 12.
However the Sunday Star-Timesnewspaper said that All Black coaches Wayne Smith and Tony Gilbert, and fellow selector Peter Thorburn, would select the team for the Tri-Nations clash in Auckland from the 23-man squad already named.
Wellington coach Dave Rennie supported the caution over bringing Cullen back to international rugby.
"He's not at his best yet," Rennie was quoted as saying. "It was typical Cully. He's got that brilliance, but it was only his first run and he's not 100 yet."
Cullen is expected to play against Waikato in the NPC next weekend and could add to his tally of 51 tests in the return Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney on September 1st
