A man who claims to enjoy embracing the local culture whenever he travels, Rowen Shepherd's adaptability may well have revived his international career ahead of next week's first Test against Australia in Sydney.

Certainly his inclusion in the side to meet New South Wales on Saturday is a clear indication that a man whose flexibility might well have given him his best chance of Test involvement in Australia as a replacement, is under serious consideration.

Discarded as Scotland full-back during last season's Five Nations Championship, Shepherd's lack of acceleration on the counter-attack counted against him.

The type of player Scotland want in that position has been demonstrated by the way Glenn Metcalfe and Derrick Lee are vying for the No.15 jersey on this tour.

However Shepherd's footballing skills have never been in doubt and it was as a stand-off/centre that he first made his name with the North & Midlands in the early nineties. His transformation into a full-back was, essentially, something of an emergency measure when there were few obvious successors around following Gavin Hastings' abdication three years ago.

He does not discount the possibility of a return to full-back at some stage, but in replacing the injured Craig Chalmers at Melrose towards the end of the club season and performing superbly at stand-off in the final game of the season against Watsonians, Shepherd provided a reminder of his pedigree.

Furthermore, the Glasgow Caledonian selectors' contracting of only one other stand-off, Tommy Hayes, suggests that they see him as a midfield prospect.

That view is clearly shared by Scotland's tour management.

''He brings a different style to the game, compared to the normal inside centre,'' said coach Jim Telfer, drawing comparison with Scotland's regular no.12 of the past two seasons.

''Even Alan Tait, who is a different style of player, lacks electric pace. But Shepherd generally steps well and kicks well and he is a good rugby player in the middle of the field. He can play a different kind of game, more like a second five eighth.''

That is a particularly telling reference in the antipodes where that second five eighth position is sometimes regarded as more of a play-making role than stand-off.

With what Telfer describes as the ''genuine pace'' of Cammy Murray outside him and the known talents and weaknesses of his business partner Gregor Townsend inside him, Shepherd, with his wider array of skills than the man who has become his main rival, Ian Jardine, may be seen as the operations controller.

''The selectors have to weigh up who they've got and what they can do at the moment,'' said Shepherd.

They see me as playing inside centre here. I don't think my full back days are over or anything like that, but they want me to play there and I am comfortable with that.

''The decision to play me there came from above. I didn't request anything. I've been everywhere else, but not to Australia before, so it's fun.''