Rugby: Paterson a vital link to Scotland's past glories ahead of Six Nations clash at Wales

Published on Wednesday 10 February 2010 09:08

CHRIS PATERSON is a man apart as Scotland prepare to head to Wales this weekend for another RBS Six Nations Championship encounter – and not just because he will be only the 11th man from a top-flight rugby nation to gain 100 caps.

The 31-year-old also holds the distinction of being the sole member of coach Andy Robinson's latest selection to have won at the Millennium Stadium – in a 27-22 triumph back in 2002.

But, put such statistics to Edinburgh's utility back and the response is a polite, but firm: "It's not about me but the team wanting to reverse last week's defeat (8-19 against France)."

As always, Paterson is to be found looking ahead with the only backward glance being to that previous win in the valleys.

"Obviously, getting 100 caps is a massive honour and something I am hugely proud of," he added. "But I just want to get on with it, get out there and continue to improve while helping Scotland win.

"There is more to this weekend than my 100 caps. It is about Scotland improving and delivering. That is my focus and hopefully that of everyone else in the squad. I watched Wales against England last time and quite honestly they were unlucky to lose after doing well to get back to 17-20 so it's going to be tough."

A try based on an interception while Wales were attacking followed by a late penalty conceding when playing catch-up sealed the dragons' fate and Paterson is wary of a backlash.

"I was impressed with the way Wales got themselves back but, there again, they are proven winners," he explained.

"A couple of grand slams in recent years involving many of those we'll be facing on Saturday shows what they are capable of.

"Wales coming off the back of a defeat – like ourselves – will make it a frantic opening, that's for sure," added Paterson, who was non-committal about whether he would like the famous stadium roof open or closed this weekend.

"I've played under both sets of conditions. It would be calmer to have the roof closed if it is windy," said the Scotland goal-kicker who will have the added incentive of looking to add to a total of 750 points in national colours.

In the course of a Test career that started at the 1999 World Cup Paterson has seen and done it all. But the best measure of his durability and sustained ability lies in the fact his hunger remains strong. "It is a long time since I was first capped but I still remember having got the first one (against Spain at Murrayfield] which I wanted so badly and enjoying the experience so much I immediately wanted a second.

"And, as soon as my second was achieved...

"Things have never changed. You want to keep going and keep improving."

Reminded that only Jim Renwick (1972-84) has managed to play 12 years in a Scotland jersey Paterson acknowledged that that was a target coming within range.

He added: "I certainly like looking forward. Looking back is for when you stop."

Except, perhaps, to recall the 2002 win...

"Cardiff is a hard place to win and I was pleased to achieve that on a day when Gordon Bulloch, our hooker, went over for a couple of tries in almost the same part of the pitch."

Meanwhile, in naming team with three changes – recalls for Euan Murray, Dan Parks and Rory Lamont – at the expense of Moray Low, Phil Godman and Max Evans, Scotland coach Andy Robinson paid tribute to Paterson's landmark achievement.

Robinson said: "A lot of Chris Paterson is about him driving himself to get better." And the coach recalled bringing Paterson back to Edinburgh after he had left to spend a season in England.

"I picked him up from Gloucester where he was pretty frustrated. He came to Edinburgh and we challenged him in areas to improve his game such as around the counter-attack and coming up to first receiver. He went away and worked at it and developed his game. He has worked with four or five different coaches and each one has kept picking him because of the way he has improved and kept working hard.

And it is not merely Paterson's play which impresses Robinson.

"On and off the pitch he is a quality person, a model professional," he said.

Scotland squad for Wales clash

15 C Paterson (Edinburgh)

14 T Evans (Glasgow)

13 S Lamont (Scarlets)

12 G Morrison (Glasgow)

11 R Lamont (Toulon)

10 D Parks (Glasgow)

9 C Cusiter (Glasgow) (c)

1 A Dickinson (Gloucester)

2 R Ford (Edinburgh)

3 E Murray (Northampton)

4 N Hines (Leinster)

5 A Kellock (Glasgow)

6 K Brown (Glasgow)

8 J Beattie (Glasgow)

7 J Barclay (Glasgow)

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Gray (Glasgow), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh), P Godman (Edinburgh), M Evans (Glasgow).