Burke sidelined as Latham recalled

BRISBANE - Matt Burke was a high-profile casualty yesterday as Chris Latham was recalled as fullback in the Wallabies team for Saturday night's Tri-Nations clash with South Africa in Brisbane.

Burke was dropped to the bench in the only change to the starting team following Australia's 50-21 loss to New Zealand in Sydney last Saturday.

The selectors made three changes to the reserves bench, recalling hooker Jeremy Paul, prop Glenn Panoho and utility back Matt Giteau.

Adam Freier, Steve Kefu and injured prop Ben Darwin were left off the bench.

Second five-eighths Elton Flatley will take over from Burke as goalkicker, as the Wallabies try to avoid their fourth consecutive loss for the first time in 21 years.

Burke's hopes of overhauling Michael Lynagh as Australia's leading points scorer depend on his ability to push back into the starting team before the World Cup.

Burke, who has played 70 tests, has accumulated 851 points. Lynagh scored 911 points from his 72 tests, before his retirement in 1995.

Australia: Chris Latham, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Elton Flatley, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt), Toutai Kefu, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Daniel Vickerman, David Giffin, Patricio Noriega, Brendan Cannon, Bill Young. Res: Jeremy Paul, Glenn Panoho, Nathan Sharpe, Owen Finegan, Chris Whitaker, Matt Giteau, Matthew Burke. * The odds on the Wallabies defending the World Cup have plunged further, with Australian bookmaker Centrebet rating victory as likely as swimmer Ian Thorpe winning six or more gold medals at next year's Athens Olympics.

Thorpe's chances of a massive medal haul at Athens have been scaled down after he was limited to three golds at the world championships which finished in Barcelona last weekend, where he was overshadowed by American sensation Michael Phelps, who set five world records.

Centrebet has the Wallabies and the "Thorpedo" at A$5 apiece.

"[Former Wallabies coach] Alan Jones is not alone in thinking that Eddie Jones cannot coach the Wallabies to World Cup glory," bookmaker Gerard Daffy said.

"Australian punters were sidestepping their team long before the Bledisloe Cup disaster."

Australia were Centrebet's favourites when the book opened - now they are miles behind New Zealand and England.

New Zealand are $2.10 favourites with Centrebet, followed by England at $3.10.

* The IRB has cleared Lang Park as a safe venue for the World Cup.

The playing surface at Brisbane's newly-renovated stadium came under scrutiny after a string of league players suffered serious knee injuries.

Lang Park will host nine matches at the World Cup, which starts on October 10, including two of the quarter-final matches.

- AGENCIES