Baptism of fire awaits the new partners

However the new half-back and midfield combinations listed by team manager Arthur Hastie yesterday were exactly as expected for the meeting with a side which has Rob Howley and Neil Jenkins at Nos 9 and 10, with two more British Lions, Scott Gibbs and Allan Bateman, in the 12 and 13 jerseys.

After playing at his preferred stand-off position in Fiji and Australia last summer, Gregor Townsend returns to outside centre after having been tried at full back in the interim against South Africa in the autumn.

John Leslie made his Test debut that day, a fortnight after arriving in Scotland, and now the hugely experienced New Zealander finds himself beside the mercurial Townsend for the first time.

What is slightly more surprising is that Gary Armstrong, re-installed as captain following the withdrawal from the squad of Bryan Redpath in midweek, plays alongside Duncan Hodge for the first time.

''We've not had any games together, but at the squad sessions you get to practise a lot with different partners,'' noted the captain. ''We've worked together often, not just this week but during November as well.''

As to backs coach John Rutherford's observation earlier this week that professional rugby has hugely improved Armstrong's service, the scrum half seems quite comfortable to play as required.

Indeed, he himself has pointed out that the changed, more open style of Newcastle Falcons' this season has helped him in a Scotland context and ensures that he is ready to provide the right kind of ball for Hodge to work with.

''Every stand-off is different, some like to take the ball standing deep and some flatter. I just have to work to how he likes it,'' Armstrong said, matter of factly.

Hodge, too, seemed to have no concerns at the prospect of working with Armstrong, having become used to Redpath's delivery at superteam and international level over the season.

''I've trained with Gary quite regularly and it shouldn't be a problem at all,'' he said, adding that the key thing was that he had not actually been aware of any change of style.

''It's not something you concentrate on or pick up on at all. You tend to be so focused on everything else that's going on around you. I certainly haven't noticed a difference. The ball's arriving where I expect it to be.''

In terms of caps the midfield pairing similarly looks like a relative rookie partnered by an established internationalist, yet most of the attention at the team announcement focused on the more experienced man.

While Leslie has, like brother Martin, who is also in the side, won only one cap, he unquestionably is an out-and-out New Zealand-style second five-eighth, who was already acknowledged as a top-class playmaker even before arriving in Scotland.

By contrast, Townsend has, in the past, made it clear that he is far from being at his most comfortable at centre.

Yet coach Jim Telfer bridled yesterday when that matter was raised, suggesting that there was something ''suspicious'' being inferred.

''We actually don't go into a room saying we'll have to get this player on the park somewhere or another,'' he said of Townsend's inclusion. ''We look at players' merits and demerits. The fact that Jamie Mayer was the incumbent for the last international but was unavailable meant we had to make a change at outside centre, but even if Jamie had been available we would have looked at other players.''

Yet when questioned about his selection at full back earlier in the season, Townsend himself had said that at least it was not centre he was being asked to play.

In fairness he has, since then, also offered the opinion that the position has changed even within the past year since he played there against England, and he seems happy with the role he has been asked to play.

Clearly, too, Telfer sees the British Lion's versatility as a huge asset when selecting the side.

''Gregor is one of those players who can play in a variety of positions,'' he said. ''You've also got to take into consideration that he has played at centre for Scotland 20-odd times. He has different attributes, but I think that he can do the same job as Jamie and he's vastly more experienced.

''There are certain things Gregor can do better, and some

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things Jamie can do better,'' Telfer went on, noting that while Townsend boasts an exceptional capacity for beating opponents, Mayer is more likely to try to run through them.

For all that the line-up was exactly as expected following Redpath's withdrawal, Leslie and Hodge are the only players to retain their places since the last cap international against the Springboks.

Two changes are positional, Townsend moving to centre and Cameron Murray switching wings.

Glenn Metcalfe's return at full back was a certainty once he proved his fitness, while Kenny Logan, reintroduced for the World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Spain, and Armstrong are the others recalled to Test duty.

In the pack the only change to the starting line-up from that which faced South Africa sees Martin Leslie, who came off the bench that day, replace Budge Pountney, who reverts to the replacements this time.

Scotland team: G Metcalfe (Glasgow Caledonians); C Murray (Edinburgh Reivers), G Townsend (Brive), J Leslie (Glasgow Cale-donians), K Logan (Wasps); D Hodge (Edinburgh Reivers), G Armstrong (Newcastle Falcons, captain); T Smith, G Bulloch (both Glasgow Caledonians), P Burnell (London Scottish), S Murray (Bedford), D Weir, P Walton (both Newcastle Falcons), M Leslie (Edin- burgh Reivers), E Peters (Bath). Replacements: S Longstaff (Glasgow Caledonians), A Tait, I Fairley (both Edinburgh Reivers), B Pountney (Northampton), S Grimes (Glasgow Caledonians), D Hilton (Bath), S Brotherstone (Edinburgh Reivers).