IT MAY seem odd, considering England will field a side containing six new caps for the first Test against the Pumas in Buenos Aires tomorrow, that the selection which caused the coach; Jack Rowell, most concern was that of a man who was player of the series for the Lions in 1993 and already has 30 England caps to his name.
The dilemma concerning Ben Clarke was not whether to play him - his form on this tour has been inspirational thus far - but where to play him.
Even before England had left home, Rowell described the selection of Richard Hill and Neil Back - two genuine open-side flankers - for the Lions as "a bit over the top". The end result, at least in the short-term context of the two Tests to be played here, is a return to the bad old days of an England back row which is uniformly big and heavy, but not particularly quick.
Clarke was employed at six in the first two matches against Cordoba and Buenos Aires, but now finds himself at seven. It is the Richmond captain's least favoured position, but one he has adopted in extremis for England before.
Martin Corry, the Bristol skipper, wins his first cap at six. Rowell admitted that his vote had been swung by Corry's forceful display in both attack and defence in Tuesday's win over Argentina A. Tony Diprose, after four years' hard graft in the A side, gets the nod at number eight. The Saracens player, trivia buffs will note, completes a trio of club captains in the back row.
To a large extent, Rowell's choice has been forced upon him. He explained: "If either Hill or Back had been here they would have been in, full stop".
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