Wallabies recall Latham

Chris Latham’s international season went full circle on Wednesday when he was re-instated to the Australia side for this weekend’s Tri-Nations Test against South Africa.

The inclusion of the Queensland full-back in place of Matt Burke is the only change Australia coach Eddie Jones made to the side that suffered a record defeat by New Zealand in Sydney last Saturday.

Latham began the season in the 15 jersey before a jittery performance against England, when he repeatedly lost the ball in contact, saw him not only replaced in the starting line-up, but dropped altogether from the squad.

But Burke, who has scored 851 Test points and lies only 60 behind national record-holder Michael Lynagh, has failed to convince Jones he is a credible alternative and slips to the bench.

With Jones committed to playing Mat Rogers at outside centre, where he was as one of Australia’s rare bright sparks against the All Blacks, Latham returns to the starting XV at full-back.

Australia are seeking to avoid a equalling an unwanted record set 21 years ago - the last time they lost four Tests in a row.

Jones has backed under-fire captain George Gregan and has been impressed with the way his squad have knuckled down since conceding a half-century of points to the All Blacks.

“We’ve got a good side now that just needs time together,” he said.

“There is a great resolve and belief in the work we a doing and there’s been a huge effort this week to address performance issues from last week.”

Jones has also admitted that, despite working his squad harder than normal in training over the last two months because of the impending World Cup, his squad is simply not fit enough.

“We saw on the weekend, the first 30 minutes we competed extremely well but if you watch the last 30 minutes, the drop-off in our intensity and urgency to get that ball was quite remarkable,” he said.

“We’ve got a plan in place to ensure that by the World Cup, we’ll be one of the fittest teams in the competition.”

Jones made three alterations on the bench, with exciting youngster Matt Giteau back in the Wallaby frame for the first time since the November tour after he proved his recovery from a fractured knee with an impressive display for the Canberra Vikings at the weekend.

Jeremy Paul, also axed after the England defeat, returns in place of Adam Freier as back-up to Brendan Cannon while Queensland prop Glenn Panoho replaces the injured Ben Darwin, who requires surgery on knee cartilage damage.

Jones admitted to having made mistakes as Australia coach, but insisted he has taken the side forward and that he would not be returning to the comfort zone of direct rugby.

“It would be very easy to go back to a direct game and that would get us some reasonable results,” he said.

“But we have to have the courage to be able to play some different styles.”

Jones, therefore, keeps faith with both George Smith and Phil Waugh on the flanks and Elton Flatley at inside centre.

Australia side to face South Africa in Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test in Brisbane:

C Latham (Queensland Reds); W Sailor (Queensland Reds), M Rogers (NSW Waratahs), E Flatley (Queensland Reds), L Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs); S Larkham (ACT Brumbies), G Gregan (ACT Brumbies, captain); B Young (ACT Brumbies), B Cannon (NSW Waratahs), P Noriega (NSW Waratahs), D Giffin (ACT Brumbies), D Vickerman (NSW Waratahs), G Smith (ACT Brumbies), P Waugh (NSW Waratahs), T Kefu (Queensland Reds).

Replacements: J Paul (ACT Brumbies), G Panoho (Queensland Reds), N Sharpe (Queensland Reds), O Finegan (ACT Brumbies), C Whitaker (NSW Waratahs), M Giteau (ACT Brumbies), M Burke (NSW Waratahs).

23rd man: S Kefu.