By Duncan Wood
August 27 2002

The first selection dilemma for Peter Thorburn will be who to select at fly half against Saracens. Felipe is a proven matchwinner. Shane has been given a chance to shine in preseason. Who will get the nod?

Largely due to Felipe requiring a rest after the efforts of last season, Shane Drahm has spent most of the preseason in the number 10 jersey.

Felipe had an incredibly high profile season in 2001-2. He not only starred for Bristol but he also had an incredible autumn international campaign for Argentina when they toured the UK, played Sevens for his country and finished off with tests against France, England and South Africa.

You'd think that selecting him at outside half would be a no brainer. However, will Peter Thorburn be tempted to pick him at centre?

Drahm has had a pretty good run in the preseason and Felipe only got a run out for 20 minutes or so against Ebbw Vale when the game was starting to fizzle out. The only other action he has seen was in the Middlesex Sevens.

The one advantage Drahm does half over his rival is in his kicking out of hand. Someone jokingly talked on the messageboards of grafting his legs onto Felipe's body. However, on Saturday, Drahm pinned Ebbw Vale back into their 22 time after time with some sweetly struck kicks. Against Saracens at home last year, we lost because Luke Smith outkicked us in the tactical game.

Playing Felipe at 12 would also help to fill the gap left by the departure of Jason Little. We've some fine young centres in the shape of Christophers, Shaw and Higgins. However, they've all played most of their rugby at outside centre rather than inside.

It's a difficult decision to make but now might be the time to give the Aussie a game. The grounds are hard and the ball is dry. He would have the reassuring presence of the Argentinian outside him.

Stranger things have happened...