Latham may be Munster bound

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has confirmed the province's interest in the Australian World Cup winning full back Chris Latham, who seems set to be one of many high-profile Wallabies intent on heading to the Northern Hemisphere after the World Cup in Australia later this year.

Latham has also been linked with English Premiership club Wasps, and like several other illustrious Wallabies - Danny Herbert is tipped to be bound for Leicester - his name is likely to be touted with a number of European clubs between now and the end of the World Cup.

"Chris is one of a number of players who has been mentioned to us and obviously he's a guy we'd be interested in," admitted Gaffney, adding: "He's a bloody good player and I'd love to have him but as of now he's just one of several names who've been mentioned to us and we haven't consciously gone after him.

"Before we would sign anybody we would tell the players and we have to weigh it up with other considerations. Chris could play anywhere in the back three and it's important for Irish rugby as well as Munster that Jeremy (Staunton) still gets plenty of game time."

Munster are unlikely to compete financially with some of the wealthier English clubs, but Gaffney and the 27-year-old have remained friends since first linking up when Latham broke into the Randwick team in 1985.

That, coupled with Australian players' relative lack of monetary motives could see him emulate John Langford and Jim Williams, a former Wallaby team-mate and friend, in ending up at Munster.

"I coached him when he first came on the scene back in 1995," said Gaffney. "He came out of the bush to play with Randwick and he's still very much a country kid. He played for our under-21s and then broke into the (New South Wales) Waratahs in '97.

Meanwhile, England coach Clive Woodward has made six changes for Sunday's Six Nations Championship game against Italy at Twickenham. Wasps' Josh Lewsey takes over at full back from Jason Robinson who limped off during the win over Wales 10 days ago.

Elsewhere, Gloucester's James Simpson-Daniel replaces thigh-injury victim Ben Cohen, Bath centre Mike Tindall is back for Charlie Hodgson, scrumhalf Matt Dawson also returns and lock Danny Grewcock replaces injured skipper Martin Johnson. Wasps flanker Joe Worsley replaces the injured Neil Back in the back row.

ENGLAND (v Italy): J Lewsey (London Wasps); J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), W Greenwood (Harlequins), M Tindall (Bath), D Luger (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Newcastle, capt), M Dawson (Northampton); G Rowntree (Leicester), S Thompson (Northampton), R Morris (Northampton), D Grewcock (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), R Hill (Saracens), L Dallaglio (Wasps). Replacements: M Regan (Leeds), M Worsley (London Irish), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sanderson (Sharks), K Bracken (Saracens), C Hodgson (Sharks), O Smi