GoulburnChris Latham May Be Full(y)Back!
July 9th 2007 08:15
It's still early days but oh please please please!!!
The Wallabies desperately need a fullback (#15) who actually knows his field position and doesn't need smelling salts everytime a Bok or Black Forward looks in his general direction.
...and seeing as we have now lost all hope of seeing the Back of Burke* again...we need Chris Latham.
Although I am not that big a fan of Latham (a wee bit sulky, forgets he's part of a team, doesn't pull his socks up...literally), he is an excellent fullback, he's fast, a good tactical kicker, not afraid to put his body on the line and he is a line breaker...something that is sadly missing from Rugby at the moment.
Even the All Blacks without Tana Umaga go nowhere fast.
Julian Huxley cannot defend his position on field. Julian Huxley needs to go.
from Rugby Heaven
Please read Rucks and Jones will Break His Bones
Latham tore both his anterior cruciate and medial ligaments (as in both knees f**ked) during a Reds pre season training session in January...an injury which kept him out of the Super 14 and has kept him out of the Tri Nations. So far.
Hopefully not a knee jerk reaction...but...this is what Latham had to say;
from Fox Sports
Latham completed an impressive comeback from a knee reconstruction three months faster than normal, playing 40 minutes in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition on Saturday 07/07.
Don't get excited. The "straight" and "speed" references are not drug related.
He means that in game time, one very rarely gets the chance to run straight down the field...although, funnily enough, Latham has done that on occasion...
Fingers, eyes, roads...and knees....crossed.
*Matthew Burke - legendary Wallaby / Waratah Fullback
excerpts courtesy of Rugby Heaven and Fox Sports
image courtesy of The Age
The Wallabies desperately need a fullback (#15) who actually knows his field position and doesn't need smelling salts everytime a Bok or Black Forward looks in his general direction.
...and seeing as we have now lost all hope of seeing the Back of Burke* again...we need Chris Latham.
Although I am not that big a fan of Latham (a wee bit sulky, forgets he's part of a team, doesn't pull his socks up...literally), he is an excellent fullback, he's fast, a good tactical kicker, not afraid to put his body on the line and he is a line breaker...something that is sadly missing from Rugby at the moment.
Even the All Blacks without Tana Umaga go nowhere fast.
Julian Huxley cannot defend his position on field. Julian Huxley needs to go.
Latham telling Huxley where to go...field position wise...
from Rugby Heaven
Wallabies assistant coach Michael Foley confirmed fullback Chris Latham was expected to be available for the Auckland Bledisloe Cup Test after playing his first game since January in Brisbane club football on Saturday.
After having knee surgery at the start of the year, Latham played the second half for the Gold Coast Breakers, scoring a try.
Please read Rucks and Jones will Break His Bones
Latham tore both his anterior cruciate and medial ligaments (as in both knees f**ked) during a Reds pre season training session in January...an injury which kept him out of the Super 14 and has kept him out of the Tri Nations. So far.
"This is really good news," Foley said. "I think Julian [Huxley] has grown game by game. But having Chris Latham back to his best will be very exciting for the squad.
That is a very polite way of saying, Huxley is a slow learner"We have always been hopeful that Chris will be back for the next Test. Whether he makes it for that, I'm not sure. But the good news is that he got through yesterday, and apparently played quite well. Also having Chris available for the World Cup is important.
"He does look in very good condition. He looks very, very fit. The only issue will be just how that knee responds."
"He does look in very good condition. He looks very, very fit. The only issue will be just how that knee responds."
Hopefully not a knee jerk reaction...but...this is what Latham had to say;
from Fox Sports
"To be honest I know I don't feel ready at the moment,"
Latham completed an impressive comeback from a knee reconstruction three months faster than normal, playing 40 minutes in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition on Saturday 07/07.
The 72-Test dynamo scored a try, set up another and looked dangerous each time he touched the ball in the Gold Coast Breakers' 54-5 thumping of Norths-QUT.
Latham will now ramp up his return by going into camp with the Wallabies this week, before playing 60 minutes for the Breakers in their major semi-final against minor premier GPS at Ballymore next Sunday.
Latham will now ramp up his return by going into camp with the Wallabies this week, before playing 60 minutes for the Breakers in their major semi-final against minor premier GPS at Ballymore next Sunday.
He feels a strong showing could have him ready to play New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park the following week, but said he needs to make significant improvement.
"That may change in the next week but I just feel I won't do the jersey justice.
"To be a part of a winning Bledisloe and Tri-Nations, who wouldn't want to be part of that, but it comes down to the respect of the jersey and your teammates and I don't think I could do that."
"That may change in the next week but I just feel I won't do the jersey justice.
"To be a part of a winning Bledisloe and Tri-Nations, who wouldn't want to be part of that, but it comes down to the respect of the jersey and your teammates and I don't think I could do that."
"Tests say that I'm nearly there," said Latham.
"But a 40m straight line sprint is one thing. It's not often you run 40m straight. It's all about getting your timing and getting your game speed.
"But a 40m straight line sprint is one thing. It's not often you run 40m straight. It's all about getting your timing and getting your game speed.
Don't get excited. The "straight" and "speed" references are not drug related.
He means that in game time, one very rarely gets the chance to run straight down the field...although, funnily enough, Latham has done that on occasion...
"It was there in stages but now I have to get back to where it's automatic. But that's what I needed, just to get rid of that fear and know that the strength's there."
Fingers, eyes, roads...and knees....crossed.
*Matthew Burke - legendary Wallaby / Waratah Fullback
excerpts courtesy of Rugby Heaven and Fox Sports
image courtesy of The Age
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Comment by David
This has all the signs of someone coming back from injury prematurely. My understanding of anterior cruciate tears is that the player generally need twleve months of rehab to fully recover, not six.
They're a pretty common injury in AFL, and nearly every player who has come back earlier has done the AC again, pretty soon afterwards. They have a regular, weekly injury-update segment on AFL with their resident media doctor, Doc Larkins (not Larkham), and he often brings out the bone-models to explain the injury (I have not been reading anatomy manuals - only exterior female anatomy glossies, okay?).
I don't mean to put a dampener on your hopes, but unless Latham's discovered some amazing recovery and rehab techniques for AC joints, I'll be really surprised if either or both knees hold up to much rugby.
David ...
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
there doesn't seem to be very much brave at all about Julian.
But there does seem to be a few marks against Latham.
Cheers,
Norm
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
I agree with Kylie.... you are wicked!
Mis
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Thank you...I do very much appreciate you darling people, for taking the time to read and comment.
Dusk