KEY POINTS:
Former Hurricanes midfielder Riki Flutey has been named in the 32-man elite England rugby squad to prepare for the test season beginning in the (northern) autumn.
Flutey who left New Zealand at the end of the 2005 season to link up with London Irish before joining Wasps was among 15 backs named by England manager Martin Johnson last night despite not fulfilling residential qualifications until September.
Another New Zealand-born player named was Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley who was on the recent two-test tour of his homeland.
Also named was World Cup winning first five-eighth, Jonny Wilkinson who missed the New Zealand tour because of injury.
Flutey, 28, who played at first five for the Hurricanes is tipped to fill the No 12 shirt for England's autumn series of four tests over four weeks, starting against the Pacific Islands amalgam of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga at Twickenham on November 8.
Flutey's talents won him the premiership player of the year award as he helped Wasps win the English Premiership, beating off fierce competition from Danny Cipriani, James Haskell and Tom Rees.
Flutey was not worried about facing the haka if picked to play the All Blacks at Twickenham on November 29.
"Most schools have a haka, so you faced them all the time," Flutey told the Times newspaper.
Flutey said he would be extra keen to show his friends back home what they are missing.
"For sure I use all sorts of things to fuel me up and that would definitely be one.
"It would be, `Look at me now, I'm taking my opportunities'.
"I didn't make the All Blacks and I want to see how I can go on the international stage."
He said he had consulted friends, including former All Black and Wellington stalwart Norm Hewitt, and family, and they were happy with his decision.
Flutey watched England go down in flames in New Zealand, where they lost two internationals convincingly last month, but does not think that they are light years behind and has remedies for both on and off-the-field problems.
"I watched half of the first test in New Zealand and I think there are a few quick-fix things that England can do," he said.
England squad:
Forwards - Steve Borthwick, George Chuter, Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Nick Kennedy, Lee Mears, Lewis Moody, Luke Narraway, Tom Palmer, Tim Payne, Tom Rees, Simon Shaw, Andrew Sheridan, Matt Stevens, Phil Vickery.
Backs - Olly Barkley, Danny Care, Harry Ellis, Toby Flood, Riki Flutey, Shane Geraghty, Dan Hipkiss, Josh Lewsey, Jamie Noon, Pete Richards, Paul Sackey, James Simpson-Daniel, Mathew Tait, Tom Varndell, Jonny Wilkinson.
- NZPA
