Rugby: Paterson gets starting berth against Ireland

CHRIS PATERSON was today recalled to Scotland's starting line-up, for the first time in the current Six Nations rugby championship, against Ireland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The 93-times capped star lines up at full back in a straight swap for Edinburgh colleague Hugo Southwell, who drops to the bench.

Aside from the predictable step-up for Ally Dickinson to replace the injured Allan Jacobsen, the rest of the team is less straightforward, with a decision having to be made at lock where four candidates are listed for two places.

In the case of Dickinson, who has once-capped Moray Low understudying him, the call is to his more familiar loose head berth compared to when he started at tight head prop in France two matches ago.

Also, coach Frank Hadden has left two vacancies on the bench. Here one slot will go to a lock but options appear to be kept open as to whether a third back replacement is required in a domain occupied by Nick De Luca last time although there is no place for the Edinburgh midfielder at this stage.

Scotland team: Paterson (Edinburgh), Danielli (Ulster), M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans (all Glasgow), Godman, Blair, captain (both Edinburgh), Dickinson (Gloucester), Ford (Edinburgh), Murray (Northampton); Locks from J Hamilton (Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow), N Hines (Perpignan), J White (Sale); Back row: Strokosch (Gloucester), Taylor (Stade Francais), Barclay (Glasgow). Subs: Hall, Low (both Glasgow), AN Other, Gray (Northampton), Cusiter (Perpignan), Southwell (Edinburgh).