Cullen’s move to Munster splits All Black rugby
Mitchell’s point-by-point criticism of Cullen’s play when the Wellington and Hurricanes full-back confirmed he had signed with Alan Gaffney’s squad has deepened the anger over his departure.
Said Randell: “What people want is to support the All Blacks but the public towelling of a real favourite in New Zealand rugby like Cully doesn’t go down well,” Randell said.
“No one likes to see one of the real icons of the game, and that’s what Christian is, given that sort of a towelling in public.”
Randell said the comments had left Mitchell in an invidious position should his favoured full back options Ben Blair and Leon MacDonald continue to have injury problems.
Cullen says he is far from a spent force and still hopes to make the All Blacks’ World Cup squad.
He said he was overwhelmed by the avalanche of emails and faxes that have flooded newspapers and radio stations in the wake of confirmation he had signed with Munster.
Cullen said he wanted to play in the tournament in Australia and still believed he was good enough to represent New Zealand.
“It’s a bit disappointing that some people have written me off as a spent force. I’m far from it,” he said.
Cullen, 27, said he was in as good a physical shape as he had ever been and had plenty to offer. “I’ve still got an ambition to play at the World Cup.”
Randell was Cullen’s captain in 1998 and 1999 and said he would be regarded as one of New Zealand’s great full-backs as he had played 58 tests (51 consecutively) and was the All Blacks’ leading test try-scorer. He said he was surprised Mitchell was so detailed in the perceived deficiencies in Cullen’s game.
A poll by one newspaper drew more than 200 negative responses over Cullen’s non-selection and six positive, echoing the sentiment on talkback radio.
The dropping of former captain Anton Oliver, non-selection of first five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens and retention of current skipper Reuben Thorne are other popular gripes.
Escalating criticism of Mitchell is nothing new, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) insisted.
NZRU chief executive Chris Moller said rugby debate was part of New Zealand culture. “I don’t think the debates have changed, they never will and never should. It’s wonderful to know that so many people are so passionate about the game,” Moller said.
“Many sports would give their eye teeth to have the coverage and interest that rugby has here. We should recognise it as a great positive.”
Moller had “no qualms at all” with Mitchell’s approach to public relations.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s been very accessible to the media and very straightforward. If people really take the trouble to listen to Mitch directly, I think they would find he is refreshingly open.
“One of the important things here is you do have to have a little bit of caution around what is said publicly about games, strategies, plans and tactics.”
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