Wallabies look to Latham for All Black clash
Latham will start from the bench in his first Test this year following knee surgery in January, with coach John Connolly opting for Adam Ashley-Cooper as run-on full back.
The 72-Test veteran is one of three changes to the Wallabies’ team which beat South Africa 25-17 in Sydney on July 7.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has also made three changes to his team for the match, which both coaches describe as their rugby summit outside the World Cup.
Connolly rushed Latham into the side, following just two club appearances this year, after Julian Huxley hurt his thigh on a night out with his Super 14 ACT Brumbies team on Saturday.
In other changes to the Wallabies, Stephen Moore replaces Adam Freier at hooker after recovering from a sternum injury and David Lyons comes in at number eight for Stephen Hoiles.
The Wallabies will be looking to carry on where they left off with their surprise 20-15 win over the All Blacks in Melbourne last month — and break a winless streak of six years in New Zealand and 21 years in Auckland.
“Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations deciders are right up there alongside World Cup finals,” said Connolly.
“Opportunities to play in Tests like this don’t come around often and Saturday night will be a special occasion. For a number of our players it will be the biggest match of their career.”
Henry said he had chosen his top team for what the All Blacks viewed as a huge challenge leading into September’s World Cup.
“The Bledisloe Cup and the Tri-Nations championship are hugely important to New Zealand and we would like to claim those honours again,” he said.
Byron Kelleher takes over from Piri Weepu at scrum half for the All Blacks, Jerry Collins returns to the blind-side flank in place of Reuben Thorne and hooker Anton Oliver replaces Keven Mealamu.
In another notable selection, inside centre Luke McAlister was retained ahead of the experienced Aaron Mauger. Isaia Toeava gets another chance to prove himself at outside centre.
Despite a patchy 33-6 win over an understrength South Africa last week, Henry said the All Blacks were close to regaining top form. “Our performance improved last week and we are after more improvement this week,” Henry said. “We are close to playing the type of rugby we want to play.”
Muliaina, Howlett, Toeava, McAlister, Rokocoko, Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman, Robinson, Jack, Collins, McCaw (capt), So’oialo.
Mealamu, Tialata, Thorne, Masoe, Leonard, Mauger, Evans.
Ashley-Cooper, Mitchell, Mortlock (capt), Giteau, Gerrard, Larkham, Gregan; Dunning, Moore, Shepherdson, Sharpe, Vickerman, Elsom, Smith, Lyons.
Freier, Baxter, McMeniman, Hoiles, Waugh, Staniforth, Latham.
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