Wallabies call up Latham for Walker

Latham's experience and kicking ability got him the nod

Australia and South Africa have both made just one change to their teams ahead of their Tri-Nations match in Perth on Saturday.

Fly-half Chris Latham comes in for Andrew Walker in the Australia team, while South Africa lock Victor Matfield returns from injury to Johan Ackermann.

Walker was dropped from the Wallabies squad after failing to inform team management he would not be making a connecting flight from Sydney to Perth with the rest of the squad.

"We had several options in Latham, Graeme Bond and Ben Tune but in the end we decided to go with Latham because of his experience and kicking ability," said coach Eddie Jones.

"Ben Tune has made extremely good progress since returning from injury but still needs game time and he'll play club rugby again this weekend.

Roff worry

Latham's position on the bench now goes to uncapped ACT Brumbies winger Graeme Bond.

Jones added: "Graeme Bond thoroughly deserves his place in the 22, he's exciting and definitely a player of the future."

There is a remote chance that Tune could get a late call-up after Joe Roff sprained his ankle at training on Monday.

"It's a grade one sprain which means he should be right for the match but as a precaution we've put Ben Tune on standby," Jones confirmed.

Matfield returns after an eye injury

Meanwhile, Matfield, who suffered an eye socket injury as the Springboks lost to New Zealand in the series opener in Cape Town on 21 July, returns to the South African side.

Ackermann, who played in South Africa's defeat of the Wallabies on 28 July, makes way.

Coach Harry Viljoen said: "We're getting to a stage where our team is getting settled.

"We've made only the one change and that's because Victor was unavailable for the last Test."

Winger Dean Hall was named despite having an ankle injury. Viljoen said he felt Hall had an 80% chance of being fit to play on Saturday.

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Australia: Matt Burke, Joe Roff, Nathan Grey, Daniel Herbert, Chris Latham, George Gregan, Toutai Kefu, George Smith, John Eales (captain), Justin Harrison, Owen Finegan, Rod Moore, Michael Foley, Nick Stiles.
Replacements: Brendan Cannon, Ben Darwin, Matt Cockbain, Phil Waugh, Chris Whitaker, Elton Flatley, Graeme Bond.

South Africa: Conrad Jantjes, Breyton Paulse, Robbie Fleck, Braam Van Straaten, Dean Hall, Butch James, Joost van der Westhuizen, Bobby Skinstad (captain), Andre Venter, Andre Vos, Mark Andrews, Victor Matfield, Cobus Visagie, Lukas van Biljon, Robbie Kempson.
Replacements: John Smit, Ollie Le Roux, Albert van den Berg, Corne Krige, Neil de Kock, Deon Kayser, Thinus Delport.