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Latham: Recharged and ready

I'll wait until the team's named and if I'm named in it then that will be a massive relief.

Chris Latham
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Australia full-back Chris Latham insists he is ready for the World Cup, after battling through a gruelling comeback schedule.

The Wallabies star ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season training with Queensland Reds at the start of the year.

He made his international return in the Tri-Nations decider against New Zealand at the end of July.

Despite the risks of throwing him in against one of the World Cup favourites, Latham believes it was a crucial step in helping him prepare for France.

"As it's turned out it definitely has been the best thing that I could have ever done," he said.

"I certainly know that I would have been in a little bit of a different mindset going into the first World Cup game against Japan on September 8 if I hadn't climbed that first mountain and played in that Auckland Test."

Motivation

And after being consigned to reserves bench roles at both the previous World Cups, Latham is eager to make his mark this time around.

"I've been able to work fairly hard on that now and obviously I'm very comfortable and very confident," Latham added.

"But I'll wait until the team's named and if I'm named in it then that will be a massive relief.

"I set myself goals at the end of 2003 over the huge disappointment when I wasn't involved then."

Australia have been drawn in Pool B for the tournament, alongside Wales, Fiji, Canada and Japan.

The 2003 runners-up top the International Rugby Union rankings, and are eager to reclaim the trophy they lost four years ago.