Former All Black sparks race row

Former All Black Chris Laidlaw has sparked controversy in New Zealand by suggesting national team coach John Mitchell picked his Tri-Nations squad along racial lines.

Laidlaw believes Mitchell opted for a squad dominated by ‘‘Pakeha’’ - a controversial term used to describe non-Maori New Zealanders - players for tactical reasons.

‘‘The fact that Mitchell and (Robbie) Deans have opted overwhelmingly for a Pakeha squad might be an accident and it might not. I think not,’’ he wrote in a column printed in every major daily newspaper in the country.

Mitchell came under fire for not picking Jonah Lomu and Tana Umaga, both of Maori origin, for the Tri-Nations opener against Australia - which the All Blacks won 12-6. The duo have been recalled for tomorrow’s clash with South Africa in Wellington but are not in the starting line-up.

Mitchell told New Zealand television he found Laidlaw’s comments ‘‘offensive’’, pointing out that 11 of the 26 players in the current squad were of non-European descent.