Gomersall earns rare opportunity against Argentina

The fact that Andy Gomarsall's contribution to England's international fortunes under Clive Woodward has been restricted to two minutes at the fag-end of a one-way Six Nations match in Rome in the spring of 2000 suggests he is not, and never has been, in the absolute forefront of the manager's mind when it comes to scrum-half matters. Indeed, there have been times in recent seasons when the 27-year-old Northumbrian has failed to intrude on thought processes at Wasps and Gloucester, let alone those of the Test selectors.

All of which makes his next 80 minutes of rugby the most significant of his career. Kyran Bracken's fragility – they refer to him as Kyran Broken at Saracens, with good reason – and Matthew Dawson's struggles with his own temperament have re-opened the door that slammed shut in Gomarsall's face a little over five years ago, when the French scored 17 unanswered last-quarter points to steal a victory at Twickenham. Until that catastrophe, Gomarsall was Jack Rowell's anointed half-back. He has not started a full international match since.

"I lost my confidence, and when that happens you move away from your strengths, the things that put you in the England team in the first place," he said yesterday. "Yes, I did despair of ever getting back. But all the old hunger and competitiveness has returned now, thanks to a lot of hard work on my part, some good coaching and a decent run in the Gloucester team. When I started playing rugby, someone told me there would be 50 low points, but that one high would make it worthwhile. That is how I am looking at this Test against Argentina."

Tomorrow's set-to at the Velez Sarsfield Stadium represents the start of a short, sharp push for a place in Woodward's 30-man squad for next year's World Cup. The England hierarchy have already identified as many as 26 potential travellers to Australia, and while Woodward has shown himself to be receptive to upturns in form and fortune and has never been frightened to back a sudden hunch, it is safe to say that the pool of players in Six Nations contention come February will, for the most part, board the plane to Perth in the autumn.

Given that Bracken and Dawson have more credit in the bank, and that Austin Healey's flexibility makes him a wild card contender for the scrum-half spot as well as three or four others, Gomarsall knows he must make things happen straight away. He needs to be involved in the November Test series at Twickenham, so a strong performance here against the masterfully cunning Agustin Pichot is essential.

"I've faced Pichot five times this season and I've learned enough about him to know that if he gives me the slip, it's a stone-cold three points to the opposition, and probably seven," Gomarsall admitted.

Pichot will lead the Pumas tomorrow. Their regular captain, the centre Lisandro Arbizu, has failed a fitness test on his damaged ribs, so Gonzalo Quesada will play at outside-half, with Felipe Contepomi in Arbizu's position.

* Saracens have signed the former New Zealand Under-21 hooker Joe Ross on a three-year deal from Worcester.

* The Ireland second row Paul O'Connell has been forced out of Saturday's second and final Test against New Zealand because of a shoulder injury. He will be replaced by Leinster's Malcolm O'Kelly.