New Zealand full-back Christian Cullen, who scored four tries in the 81-3 demolition of Llanelli, yesterday issued a chilling warning to Wales: "We will get better." Cullen will not be involved in today's match against Wales A at Pontypridd's Sardis Road ground where the All Blacks will field a different team from that on duty at Stradey Park.

But the 21-year-old claimed: "We have only just started. We said we were going out to set a benchmark for the tour and we have done that in our first match. We don't want to go below that benchmark now and we will get better."

Cullen's absence may disappoint what is expected to be a sell-out crowd, but will be more than compensated for by the return of Jonah Lomu on the wing.

Lomu took the 1995 World Cup by storm but his career was cut short by a rare kidney disorder that at one time threatened to end his career.

Instead, he has fought back bravely and his mentor and close friend, New Zealand-based Welshman Phil Kingsley Jones, said: "Jonah could easily have walked away from the game when his illness was diagnosed.

"But he is hungry for rugby - he wants it. He is thinking about the game all the time and if he can maintain his fitness he will become 10 times the rugby player he was before."

Andrew Mehrtens stands down to allow Carlos Spencer to take over the out-half spot in a side coach John Hart is hoping will follow the example set at Llanelli.

"We were looking to start the tour on a positive note and it was a quality performance," said Hart. "The skill level of the team and the sustained momentum of the forward drive for 80 minutes was really encouraging.

"But we know the opposition is going to be much better at Pontypridd."

Wales coach Kevin Bowring has been forced to make one change to his original team with Swansea prop Ian Buckett coming into the front row to replace Cardiff's injured Andrew Lewis.

Meanwhile, Clive Woodward has transformed the face of England rugby by choosing five new caps and throwing out a batch of long-serving players for the Test against Australia on Saturday.

The new coach gives first caps to five youngsters - including two 20year-olds whom he has coached at under-21 level - Bath's Matt Perry and Andy Long.

The other new caps are wing Dave Rees, centre Will Greenwood and prop Will Green.

It is a dynamic, inventive selection, reflecting Woodward's new approach to England's future. If it comes off Woodward will have a bank of players to graft on to the long-serving men like Tim Rodber, Mark Regan, Neil Back, Phil de Glanville and Graham Rowntree - who are not required as starting players for this Test.

Last season's captain de Glanville scrapes into the squad as a bench replacement.

The choice of Perry and Long, meanwhile, is a major gamble.

Perry, who earned a living recently as a tea-shop waiter and could have become a professional golfer from a handicap of five, has played only twice at full-back for Bath this season.

But he insists it is his preferred position, even though Bath have played him at centre for the past couple of months.

Long, a huge hooker who has competed against internationals Regan, Graham Dawe and Federico Mendez for the slot at Bath, dropped down seven divisions to return to Bournemouth last season when he was being edged out by the Test stars.

He came back this season and said: "You have to compare and compete with the best and learn from them."

The new team includes switching Jason Leonard back to the loosehead of the scrum after his reluctant move to the right-hand side to accommodate Rowntree two years ago. New tight-head prop Green, like Long, has come through as a tough competitor in Europe.

Another Bath man, Mike Catt, meanwhile, continues his journey round the England back division. After spells at full-back and standoff he is now at centre alongside Will Greenwood, who becomes the 11th player in England history to follow his father into the England team.

Woodward takes chances on the recovery from recent injuries to Rees, Green, scrum-half Kyran Bracken and stand-off Alex King.

Woodward is interested in units, and that accounts for Bracken's recall over Lions hero Matt Dawson along with his Saracens club-mates Tony Diprose and Richard Hill.

Saracens lead the Premiership and, although Bracken has played only once in that competition, Woodward said: "The three of them know each other's playing so well. But it is hard luck on Dawson."

Woodward's other unit is the Bath trio of Catt, Adedayo Adebayo and Perry in the back division.

Outside them, Rees has hit form and fitness at the right time with five tries in two matches after recovering from a double hernia operation.