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Latham: no Munster regrets
17/11/2006
AUSTRALIA full-back Chris Latham is back in the country he almost called home three years ago.
The Wallaby superstar might have a Heineken Cup medal in his trophy cabinet now, but he turned down a move to Munster just weeks before his planned arrival. Instead, he's looking forward to winning a World Cup medal next year.
Latham was given an international lifeline following the appointment of Eddie Jones as Wallaby coach, and he decided against signing for Munster at the 11th hour, a source of great annoyance to then coach Alan Gaffney.
"It was a very close call. I even had a passport for my young daughter to travel, but I have no regrets now," said Latham yesterday.
No wonder — when Munster came calling, Latham was out of favour and out of sorts. He wanted a new challenge and wouldn't have left Australia for any other team but Munster, he stressed. Since then, however, he has gone from strength to strength and with 70 caps — and 34 tries — he's the most seasoned full-back in Wallaby history. The John Eales Medal is awarded each year to the best and fairest Australian player of the season, as decreed by all members of the squad, and last season Latham became the first back to win it.
Latham is preparing for a different challenge this weekend. "It's no surprise to learn we play most of our footie on hard ground, but it's going to be a lot different this weekend.
"Also, we know that Ireland will have their strongest side on the pitch; the atmosphere will be huge, particularly after beating South Africa, so all those factors have to be taken into account.
"I don't think you can compare this game with the one in Perth a few months back; it's a different time, different place, different occasion. We're coming off the back of a long season; they're starting out on one, so they will be looking forward to teeing off the season with a couple of good wins."
Latham says it's difficult to judge Ireland's performance last weekend, given the team fielded by South Africa, but he praised Ireland for the display and the win.
"I think they showed a lot in their defence, and a lot in attack when they got the opportunity; they're a very well organised side and showed a lot of promise, so we have to make sure we can put a stop to that."
Coach John Connolly has rolled the dice with a new midfield partnership for Lansdowne Road. Stirling Mortlock will captain the side from inside centre, partnering Lote Tuqiri for the first time.
It could be a risky move, especially as they face in-form Ireland centres Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy – a fact acknowledged by Connolly.
"It will be a good challenge for our centres to face O'Driscoll and D'Arcy," he said. "We've been looking for the right combinations and it has been difficult. But we're confident of Stirling's ability to adapt to inside centre. He can play the ball as well as attack it."
Stephen Larkham moves back to out-half at the expense of Mat Rogers, but Wallabies attack coach Scott Johnson has warned he may soon be on the move again.
"Larkham is an intelligent kid – he's been around the block – but this is not the end of the experiment at fly-half," said Johnson.
The selection doesn't come as a surprise, given Connolly's determination to try new combinations in the build-up to next year's World Cup. There are just two changes in personnel from the team that defeated Italy 25-18 last week, Phil Waugh coming in for George Smith at open side flanker, and Mark Gerrard filling the vacancy on the wing.
Connolly has admitted his surprise the pack has become settled quicker than he expected.
"My priority was to get ourselves in a position where we could call upon enough players to provide us with two quality packs. We have achieved that to an extent; there is more work to do the same with the back division, hence the need to look at new players and current players in different roles.
"It was brought home to us in the latter part of the year that we struggled to produce quality backs once the top tier players weren't available."
Connolly added that the benefits of moving the likes of Larkham and Gerrard may be seen further down the road: "It's enlightening for us coaches to see what guys can do in different roles and in different parts of the pitch; it must be beneficial for them as well."
The coach is well aware that the 37-15 win Australia enjoyed in Perth five months is no guarantee of success on Sunday.
"The circumstances are totally different," says Connolly. "Ireland toured at the end of a long season; they had just been through two seriously physical games against the All Blacks, and they were away from home.
"There is no doubt that home advantage is a factor in international rugby; now the roles are reversed – they're starting out, with the benefit of a morale-boosting win over South Africa, and we're coming to the end of our season, which has been just as long as Ireland's was last time.
"This is a pretty accomplished Irish side, who have been knocking the big teams over for a while now; they're building on experience and you only have to look at the bench to see the level of experience. It's pretty much the best and most challenging Irish side I've seen in about 15 years."
Connolly fears the damage Ronan O'Gara is capable of inflicting in such difficult conditions.
"He is up there amongst the best tactical kickers in the world. He does like to run the game, likes to distribute and does that very well, but if kicking is needed to control a match, O'Gara has few, if any, peers.
"Still, I reckon Stephen (Larkham) isn't bad when it comes to that; Mark Gerrard is handy and Chris Latham is one of the best kicking full-backs around, so we've got a share of options if it comes down to that type of tactic."
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