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Christian Cullen has returned to the New Zealand fold after an absence of more than a year for Saturday's Test against Italy.

Cullen, who has not played a Test since the All Blacks' victory over Italy in Genoa in late 2000, is likely to be fullback in the starting XV which will be named on Monday.

He goes into the game needing two tries to equal the recently-retired Jeff Wilson's record haul of 44 tries for the All Blacks.

Jonah Lomu is also in the squad for the first Test of the international season, which will take place in Hamilton.

Lomu has 34 tries in his 55 tests, one less than John Kirwan who is in third place on the all-time try-scoring list for New Zealand.

Jonah Lomu
Lomu has also been named in the squad

Kirwan, now Italy's coach, watched his team squander a 12-point lead with 14 minutes remaining to cling on for a 35-35 draw against a New Zealand Divisional XV in Taupo on Sunday.

His counterpart John Mitchell named a 22-man New Zealand squad at the conclusion of a four day training camp at the beach resort of Whangamata on Sunday.

He decided to rest the Canterbury Crusaders' trio of prop Greg Somerville, number eight Scott Robertson and fullback Leon MacDonald.

Wellington outside centre Tana Umaga has been allowed further recuperation from a knee injury.

Reuben Thorne will become the 58th New Zealand captain when he leads the team out at the new Waikato Stadium, which is hosting its first rugby union Test match.

Utility back Daryl Gibson will play his 200th first class match if he takes the field, while Otago's Joe McDonnell has a chance to make his Test debut.

Squad: Christian Cullen (Wellington), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Jonah Lomu (Wellington), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Mark Robinson (Canterbury), Daryl Gibson (Canterbury), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Andrew Mehrtens (Canterbury), Byron Kelleher (Otago), Justin Marshall (Canterbury), Taine Randell (Otago), Marty Holah (Waikato), Richard McCaw (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (captain, Canterbury), Simon Maling (Otago), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Norm Maxwell (Canterbury), Kees Meeuws (Otago), Dave Hewett (Canterbury), Joe McDonnell (Otago), Mark Hammett (Canterbury), Tom Willis (Otago).


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