By Robert Galvin
SYDNEY, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Tim Horan must be wishing for the day when rugby union follows club soccer's example by putting a player's name on the back of his shirt.
It might save Horan, a veteran of more than 50 test appearances, some confusion as he contemplates which numbered shirt to wear after yet another positional change in Australia's back line.
Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen handed the 27-year-old Queenslander the number 13 jersey on Friday by naming him at outside centre for the opening tour match in Argentina on October 25.
After making his reputation as one of the world's best inside centres -- number 12 on the team sheet -- Horan has been shifted about by a succession of coaches at club, state and international level.
``I suppose it's difficult to go from playing at full-back (15) for Queensland, fly-half (10) for Australia, then back to inside centre (12) for my club and then to outside centre (13) for Australia,'' Horan told reporters on Friday.
Add to that list an appearance on the wing for Australia during their European tour in late 1996.
Although resigned to the situation, Horan is far from happy about the effect on his career of playing in five different positions over the past 12 months.
``It's something you've got to live with,'' said Horan, whose favourite inside centre position was taken by ACT Brumbies' Pat Howard.
``I obviously prefer inside centre. I have just got to work on it at training and make sure I'm comfortable in the new position.
``I'm not sure whether it's long term or what it's for but I'm picked there so I've just got to learn a few aspects of playing outside centre.
``I'd prefer to stay in one position -- but I'm in the side and I'm happy with that.''
Former Wallaby coach Greg Smith stunned supporters -- and defied accepted wisdom -- by trying to convert Horan into a fly-half last season.
According to most observers, Smith's gamble in switching an experienced centre to such an unaccustomed, yet highly specialist, position failed badly.
The experiment, widely criticised in the media, ended when Horan broke his hand during Australia's disappointing Tri-Nations campaign.
Before Horan recovered fitness to join Australia's squad to tour Argentina and Britain in October and November, Smith had resigned, almost certainly saving himself the humiliation of being sacked.
Macqueen has opted for specialist fly-half David Knox, with Howard on his immediate outside in his first team selection as Australia prepare for a two-test series against Argentina in early November.
``We've got a couple of ball players in Knox and Howard inside Tim,'' said Macqueen, who will leave for Argentina with the rest of the Wallaby squad on Monday.
``It will be good to give Tim the opportunity to use some of his speed and ability out wide. We don't say this is a permanent situation but we certainly think it's something worthwhile looking at.''
Horan, it seems, may soon be looking for yet another different shirt to wear.
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