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BRISBANE - Only a huge leap of faith could see Wallabies selectors rush Chris Latham back for Saturday's Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup rugby decider against the All Blacks.
Latham lasted an impressive 80 minutes in his second club match back from a knee reconstruction on Sunday but his performance suggested a test return may have to wait until the World Cup.
The 72-test fullback was "ecstatic and super-proud" of his ability to see out Gold Coast's 30-8 Queensland premier semifinal win over GPS at Ballymore just six months after surgery.
But he admitted, not surprisingly, there was plenty of rust in his performance before national coach John Connolly and fellow selector Michael O'Connor.
Most concerning was his difficulty in finding distance and accuracy with what is normally a booming left boot.
It would be a massive risk to play the undercooked star against New Zealand in a huge test at Auckland's Eden Park, with the chance of winning the Tri-Nations for the first time in six years.
Speaking before the game, Connolly said he wanted Latham to return to the international arena before September's Cup in France but he needed to deliver a strong game to deserve selection.
"We'd like him to play next week (for Australia) because that would get him back to the mountain as soon as possible but on the other side is you want to be fair to the team as well," he said.
"We're playing for the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations as well so he has to be able to contribute strongly and that's the dilemma."
The winner of Saturday night's clash will take home both trophies with the trans-Tasman rivals equal on 9 points in the Tri-Nations following NZ's uninspiring 33-6 win over South Africa last night.
Connolly, to decide Latham's fate tomorrow, has been pleased with an improving Julian Huxley's test development at No.15 and is happy to keep him in the custodian's role.
"He's been at that level the whole time and comfortable in the team so that's a strong pointer for him," he said
"It takes time to pick up the pace of games and Huxley is used to it and Latho, as good a player he's been, hasn't been there so that's a factor as well."
Latham declared himself ready to join his Wallabies teammates in camp in Sydney today but wasn't judging his chances of a stunning test recall.
He said he'd rid himself of any mental demons in the first five minutes and felt the knee was 100 per cent.
"I'm very happy where I'm at at the moment," Latham said.
"It's very flattering to know that as much as a month ago it was -- Are we going to get Chris Latham back for the World Cup? -- and now all of a sudden it's are we going to get him back next week.?
"I definitely don't want to lose perspective."
In a boost, the Wallabies expect to have hooker Stephen Moore back from a sternum injury for the Eden Park clash as well as back-up Adam Freier (groin).
Any plans of starting Hugh McMeniman at blindside flanker and moving Rocky Elsom to No 8 have been shelved with David Lyons and Stephen Hoiles competing to play at the back of the scrum.
Connolly indicated Huxley, who stood in at five-eighth for Stephen Larkham at the Brumbies this year, had also firmed as a backup first five-eighth option for the World Cup squad.
The Wallabies will head to Auckland on Wednesday full of confidence after the All Blacks took 68 minutes to cross the line against the understrength Springboks.
Backline coach Wayne Smith ended the match with his head in his hands, with head coach Graham Henry's comforting hand on his shoulder.
But Connolly warned Australia could read little in NZ's performance.
"I think the All Blacks knew they were always going to win," he said.
"Next week they will know they will be playing for two trophies so they will be pretty switched on."
- AAP
