SCOTLAND'S most capped stand-off Craig Chalmers, has been listed out of position at inside centre, as the Border Reivers aim to break their duck in the European Cup with an away tie to Bath this weekend.
The experience of being deployed further out in the midfield is commonplace for Chalmers's two principal rivals for the Scotland No.10 shirt, Gregor Townsend and Duncan Hodge, but it is something of a novelty for the Melrosian.
''Other than a couple of minutes as a substitute in the Dunblane match last year, I hadn't played the position since my teens until I came on at half time against Pontypridd last weekend,'' Chalmers said yesterday.
''Obviously my preference is to play at stand-off. But I'm quite willing to play in the centre as long as it's best for the team. I'm just glad to be playing and fit again after all the injuries I've had.''
Reivers coach, Rob Moffat, said that retaining Chalmers at centre - where he replaced Kelso's Kevin Utterson during last weekend's 23-16 defeat by Pontypridd - was the ''best combination'' from the available players. Hawick's Cameron Murray is still sidelined through the head injury he sustained in the home match against Bath.
''Playing Craig at centre isn't something we do lightly. But given the type of rugby we are playing, it's a lot easier to play in another position. We are looking for rugby players all over the park and the number on a player's back is immaterial,'' Moffat contended.
Chalmers was moved to centre during his final year at Earlston High School to accommodate another future internationalist, Graham Shiel, while his talents were also utilised wider out by Scotland Under 19 when Kendal Smith claimed the outside half jersey.
What chance that his nomination by the Borders will be the precursor to a similar move for the national team? That's not an issue which unsettles Chalmers.
''If I played for Scotland at inside centre over the next two to three years, I'd be quite happy,'' he declared. ''I don't really care where I play as long as I'm playing well and I'm confident in that position.
''If you are a rugby player you can adapt. I've never really been seen as a centre or versatile in that department before, but it's not a bad thing to be seen in that light. After all, it's a professional game now and you play where you are picked.''
Scott Welsh, who has rarely played better, retains the stand-off berth while Borders make two changes in personnel and one positional switch.
Craig Redpath returns after a leg injury to displace Ronnie Kirkpatrick in the back row and Steve Ferguson, the Peebles and Scotland A prop, is introduced to the front row.
Peter Wright switches to the left of the scrum to the exclusion of Neil McIlroy, who Moffat praised for the improvement in his game.
The Borders have opted for five forwards in their replacements suggesting they will deploy fresh legs against Bath's juggernaut pack. Team:
Border Reivers - Aitchison; Nichol, Stanger, Chalmers, Dods; Welsh, Redpath (capt); Wright, Hay, Ferguson, Brown, Fullarton, Redpath, Hogg, Roxburgh. Replacements - Moncrieff, Fairley, Kirkpatrick, Elliot, McIlroy, Browne, Brotherstone.
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