NZ fallout begins as Mitchell closes World Cup door on Cullen
Mitchell names his Tri-Nations squad at the weekend, with Canterbury's Ben Blair expected to head off Cullen for a specialist full-back spot and the coach explained: "You can only select so many All Blacks. He's been a very fine All Black and has served the All Blacks well.
"It's just unfortunate that the All Black selectors have chosen that other players are better than him in the current game. He's made a choice and I wish him well."
Mitchell insisted there is no personality conflict with Cullen, whom, he said, had simply lost out in the evaluation of full-back options. "There is no personal conflict or anything like that," he said. "In fact, Christian went through some tough times last year and I went and met him several times to help him."
After the Tri-Nations series last year and the All Blacks' trip to Britain, Cullen was given a fix-it list of skills and areas of his game the selectors wanted him to improve.
There had been some interaction during the Super 12 tournament, Mitchell said, but he had not spoken to Cullen since the first All Black squad was chosen in May.
Mitchell said he viewed Cullen in a similar way to former skipper Taine Randell.
Both were high-quality rugby players still capable of making the All Black squad for the World Cup.
"But it is a case that in the rankings there are a couple ahead of them. We can't guarantee anyone a place," Mitchell said.
"Christian was a bloody great rugby player, but that is the past. We look at current form. Positionally he also tends to get caught," Mitchell said.
"He gets kicked at a lot now with a kick-chase line and he will either carry the ball or chip it, but that is an opportunity for the opposition. He scores tries, but when they are not on he takes himself out of play. We wanted more accuracy from him at fullback.
"I was a huge fan of him before I came into this job, but we are moving on."
Cullen is still contracted to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) until after the World Cup in November, and said he intended to play this year's NPC for Wellington.
NZRU chief executive Chris Moller said Cullen was a "great loss". "We would have loved to have Christian stay in New Zealand from 2004 onwards but we understand his desire to play overseas and he goes with our best wishes," Moller said.
Former All Blacks coach John Hart, who coached Cullen in his Test debut against Samoa in 1996, was saddened.
"I am very disappointed that he is not in the running for the World Cup squad. He is a player that New Zealand rugby needs because he's exciting and a great name in the game."
Cullen, 27, is the leading All Blacks Test try-scorer with 46 tries and the most capped All Blacks full-back with 58 Test appearances since his debut against Samoa in 1996.
Cullen insisted last night: "I am proud of what I have achieved in the black jersey but I would love to cap off my All Blacks career by helping the boys win the World Cup. I certainly haven't given up on that dream."
An internet poll conducted by website planet-rugby.com yesterday revealed a huge majority of fans believe Munster's capture of Christian Cullen is to the detriment of the All Blacks.
In response to the question 'Has New Zealand lost out by Christian Cullen moving to Munster?' 84% of those who responded replied 'Yes, he still has what it takes', while 16% checked the box marked 'No, he is past his prime'. By yesterday evening, more than 900 votes had been cast.
Meanwhile, the Scottish and Welsh rugby authorities are to switch their criteria for European qualification to the new-look Celtic League from next season.
Both countries have agreed to award Heineken Cup places to the top two Scottish and top four Welsh sides in the competition.
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