Former Kiwi league cap in England's Six Nations squad

The 28-year-old qualified to play for England on residency grounds this month and Johnson wasted no time in parachuting the Bath centre straight into the squad, ahead of Shane Geraghty or Dominic Waldouck.

Hape won 14 international caps for the Kiwis before making his cross-code switch from Bradford Bulls to Bath in 2008. He joins Riki Flutey and Dylan Hartley as the third New Zealand-born player in the England squad.

Johnson also promoted North-ampton wing Chris Ashton – a home-grown rugby league convert from Wigan – and fellow Saints Ben Foden and Courtney Lawes into a new-look 32-man squad.

England's cricket selector Geoff Miller recently admitted he would consider blocking South African-born players – the next Kevin Pietersen or Jonathan Trott – from being picked in the future.

But despite their multi-million pound elite player structure, the Rugby Football Union appear to have no plans to follow suit.

Johnson has been monitoring Hape's form for the last year and selected him yesterday at the first possible opportunity. England did the same with Riki Flutey in the autumn of 2008.

New Zealand-born number eight Dan Ward-Smith is in the second-string England Saxons squad along with Saracens' South African centre Brad Barritt.

Johnson is aware of the debate that has been raging in cricket following the selection of Craig Kieswetter, but he insisted that improving England's fortunes was his only concern.

"It is what the players do when they are here, how they handle themselves, how they train, how they play and the commitment they have to that team," said Johnson, the England team manager.

"I said that to Shontayne when I spoke to him the other day. Riki has been one of our outstanding players and characters in the team. Dylan Hartley as well. I am looking forward to having Shontayne there.

"I have played with guys who are born overseas throughout my career. You could never doubt Mike Catt's commitment to the England cause.

"Shontayne has got an opportunity. We have been impressed with him as a player. We have made enquiries about him as a person and a character and everything is positive. I am fully expecting him to come in and work hard and knuckle down."

If Hape features during the Six Nations, he will become the third former New Zealand rugby league international to play for England after Henry Paul and Lesley Vainikolo.

Johnson

admitted: "It is a bit of a tough call on Shane who played at 12 for us in two games in the autumn and did pretty well. We will consider him at fly-half for the Saxons."

Johnson also hinted that the presence of a more robust inside centre such as Flutey or Hape could open the door for Mathew Tait to nail down the 13 jersey.

"I have felt a bit for Tait. It can be a little convenient sometimes to stick him on the bench because he is a utility. It is probably a time for him to challenge for that 13 spot," he said.

Johnson's challenge to Tait and his squad selection in general is a positive response to the impotent rugby England played during the autumn, when they

scored just one try in three Tests – in a laboured win over Argentina – and failed to trouble the Australia or New Zealand defences at all.

The return to fitness of Flutey, Delon Armitage and Toby Flood will give England a sharper edge, while Ashton is the leading try-scorer in the Guinness Premiership, with nine in ten matches.

James Haskell, Lewis Moody and Steve Thompson, meanwhile, have all been confirmed in the squad after impressing Johnson with their autumn displays.

England head to Portugal for a warm-weather training camp in the week beginning 25 January before tackling Wales in their Six Nations opener at Twickenham on 6 February.