Just one real regret: if only we’d beaten England at the World Cup

IN AN international career spanning 12 years and 109 Test matches under the most piercing of spotlights in a success-starved Scotland, there are bound to have been some great moments and some worth forgetting.

Chris Paterson has certainly enjoyed and endured his share, but he insists he has few real regrets.

“Of course, you regret mistakes you made,” he said, “wished you’d kicked that, why did I not get into that position, why didn’t I score that try, and wee things in games and technical aspects, but emotionally, in how I’ve performed or prepared, and thrown myself into it, no.”

The highlights he says will probably only become more memorable as he moves away from his playing career, but there are some obvious ones that will live long in the memory.

“For me, always your first cap is something special. It’s something you dream of as a youngster and when you finally get it you realise how hard you’ve worked and how hard you’ve got to keep working it’s a great highlight.

“My 50th cap was another. I was the youngest Scot to get a 50th and that was in 2004. And then the 100th in Wales where I was presented with my jersey the night before and I also received a hand-written note from each of the match-day squad – that was very special.

“And then for it to last 30 minutes and end up in A&E was not so special [kidney injury].

“I didn’t want it to end like that and it took until a cap off the bench against South Africa to get to 101, but then the fourth World Cup became a huge goal for me and so became a great highlight.

“Then the last game against England, at a neutral venue, in Auckland, from a personal point of view I really enjoyed, and it could only have been bettered if we’d won it.

“Maybe half-knowing at the time it would be my last, but knowing now that it was, being happy with the way I performed, and the atmosphere in the game, brings a smile to the face. If only we’d won it. That’s the regret.”

It is perhaps no surprise, with his career coming at a time when Scotland’s stock was low on the world stage, what should have been a great period, when he was named Scotland captain, is tinged with disappointment from a poor 2004 Six Nations under new coach Matt Williams.

“I was lucky to captain Scotland 12 times, but it was difficult as well. I was a young fella, at 25, and it was a transitional era as well.

“But the experience you learned from was invaluable. Maybe looking back, if I could pass on advice to young captains, I probably let it affect my game too much.

“I worried about everyone else, trying to getting everything else right, the strategy right, the game right, and my own game suffered a wee bit.

“But I was certainly honoured to captain my country and I’ve nothing against Matt. There were a lot of good things we do now in the professional era that Matt spoke about.

“I think he will be the first to admit that it didn’t really turn out the way he wanted, but you have highlights and lowlights in every game, and probably every career.”