Sport

Larkham fit to make return for Wallabies

Australia v Wales: Australia outhalf Stephen Larkham has been cleared to play for the Wallabies in the second Test against Wales…

Sat Jun 02 2007 - 01:00

Australia v Wales:Australia outhalf Stephen Larkham has been cleared to play for the Wallabies in the second Test against Wales at Brisbane's Lang Park today. Larkham pulled out of last week's series opener in Sydney after straining a hamstring and was set to miss the second match before passing a fitness test yesterday.

"I felt no pain out there today and I'm very confident I'll be 100 per cent," he said yesterday. "I wouldn't risk it if I wasn't 100 per cent."

Australia's attack coach Scott Johnson said Larkham's inclusion was a huge boost to the Wallabies but the selectors also needed to start grooming a new outhalf for when he retires from international rugby.

"We've got to look beyond Stephen as he is leaving us shortly. We have to tap into his intellectual property, so that we are not so exposed by his departure," Johnson said. "Stephen wasn't successful by fluke. He had something unique about him."

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Wales coach Gareth Jenkins said Larkham's availability would make things harder for his team but he was still quietly confident of springing an upset after coming so close last week. The tourists raced to a 17-0 lead in Sydney before conceding a try after the final siren to go down 29-23.

"If Larkham gets there and does play he will be a big plus for them. If he doesn't they have got selection options and I'm sure they will be pretty comfortable with them," Jenkins said. "Our emphasis has been on ourselves, not on them. We feel we can improve by 30 per cent. We've worked all week and tried to achieve that in our training sessions"

WALES: G Thomas (capt); C Czekaj, J Robinson, S Parker, A Brew; J Hook, M Phillips; I Thomas, M Davies, C Jones; M Owen, R Sidoli; C Charvis, J Thomas, G Thomas. Replacements: C Horsman, R Hibbard, S Morgan, R Sowden-Taylor, A Williams, C Sweeney, G Henson.

AUSTRALIA: J Huxley; D Ioane, S Mortlock, A Ashley-Cooper, D Mitchell; S Larkham, M Giteau; B Robinson, S Moore, G Shepherdson; N Sharpe, D Vickerman; G Smith, W Palu, R Elsom. Replacements: A Freier, M Dunning, M Chisholm, S Hoiles, P Waugh, G Gregan, M Gerrard.