Latham 'fit to play footy'

Australia coach John Connolly has defended the selection of Chris Latham for Saturday's Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand following claims he was being rushed back too quickly.

Latham has played only two minor clubs games since undergoing full knee reconstruction at the start of the season but is on the bench for the Auckland test.

Tri-Nations matches between Australia and New Zealand are traditionally bruising and, with the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup at stake, Saturday promises to be likewise.

The 31-year-old Latham was initially bracketed with Adam Ashley-Cooper at fullback but was confirmed as a replacement after Tuesday's training.

The former Australia player and selector Tim Horan is concerned Latham could suffer a recurrence of the knee injury. He said he would prefer to see Latham work his way back in a less-demanding environment to ensure he was ready for the World Cup in September.

"It's an unfair call on Chris," Horan told Sydney's Daily Telegraph. "People who understand knee reconstructions will know it's amazing he's already playing so soon. Mentally this is a massive step, and a step too early in my opinion."

But Connolly insisted Latham was in good enough shape.

"He's fit to play footy; he's played two weekends in a row and he's trained," Connolly told reporters yesterday.

Ashley-Cooper was switched from his customary wing position after first-choice fullback Julian Huxley was injured when playfully tackled by a team-mate at a club dinner at the weekend.

AUSTRALIA(team to face New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday): C Latham/A Ashley-Cooper; Ashley-Cooper/D Mitchell, S Mortlock (capt), M Giteau, M Gerrard; S Larkham, G Gregan; M Dunning, S Moore, G Shepherdson; N Sharpe, D Vickerman; R Elsom, G Smith, D Lyons. Replacements: A Freier, A Baxter, H McMeniman, S Hoiles, P Waugh, S Staniforth, Mitchell/Latham.