Horan blasts selectors
By Peter Jenkins
July 18, 2007
AUSTRALIA legend Tim Horan last night blasted Wallabies selectors after they fast-tracked a Test return for world-class full back Chris Latham.
Horan accused the national panel of treating Latham "unfairly" after it called him up to play New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday night.
The Wallabies veteran - named on the bench for the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations decider - is just 1 1/2 club games into his comeback from six months out with knee damage.
"Latho is the most courageous player we have at the moment, but I'm thinking about his build-up to the World Cup and his longevity in the game," Horan said.
"It's an unfair call on Chris. People who understand knee reconstructions will know it's amazing he's already playing so soon.
"This would be like asking Darren Lockyer, when he comes back from his knee injury, to play two Queensland Cup games and then go straight into State of Origin.
"Mentally this is a massive step and a step too early in my opinion.
"The whole idea was to get Latho back for the World Cup, and that's on track. But he needs another couple of games at a lower level."
Around midday yesterday Latham was going to start the Test.
Wallabies coach John Connolly indicated there might be greater risk attached to shifting in-form winger Adam Ashley-Cooper to full back for the injured Julian Huxley.
But at lunchtime the selectors spoke to Latham and Ashley-Cooper, before convening to make a decision.
There was a suggestion from one selector that Drew Mitchell play at full back before Ashley-Cooper was given the nod, primarily because Latham expressed reservations about his readiness for such a major occasion.
"He's not comfortable where he is skill-wise, so that's an issue," Connolly said at training last night.
"At the moment his skill factor is a bit hit and miss. We had a lot of talks and we went round in circles.
"There were a number of areas to look at, including his physical fitness in terms of going the whole match. He hasn't played at all, so there's every chance he could implode early.
"But we still think he's got a role to play. The intention is to get him on the field."
What concerns Horan is that it could be sooner rather than later.
"The rule when you're on the bench is that you've got to be prepared to play 79 minutes if someone goes down at the start," he said. "Latho would never let Australia down but is he ready for that?"
When the side was finalised Ashley-Cooper - the find of the season - was handed the full back responsibilities, Mitchell was called in as a starting winger and Latham was included on the bench.
"Adam is fit and he knows all the calls," said Connolly.
"But obviously full back is totally different to wing and that's the risk we're taking."
The All Blacks have made three changes to the side that defeated the Springboks last week, with halfback Byron Kelleher, hooker Anton Oliver and flanker Jerry Collins returning to the side.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22091877-23217,00.html
