Paterson auditions for World Cup part
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Your support makes all the difference.The versatile Chris Paterson will gain the chance to stake his claim for a place in Scotland's World Cup squad at fly-half against the Barbarians at Murrayfield tonight.
Paterson believes that is his favourite position and many Scotland supporters reckon the move could help solve the team's back-line problems. The Scotland coach, Ian McGeechan, said: "We don't have blinding pace behind the scrum, so we have to try to create something different. It is a big opportunity for Chris and we will have to wait and see how things pan out."
Scotland's most capped player, Gregor Townsend, moves to inside-centre in the revamped three-quarter line. Andy Craig will be his midfield partner, with James McLaren going out to left-wing in place of Paterson. Simon Webster will fill the other wide berth after being denied his first cap against Italy by a training-ground injury.
Paterson started out as a fly-half for Gala but has since played at full-back or wing for both Edinburgh and Scotland. He said: "Playing at 10 in the World Cup has always been in the back of my mind, but I honestly didn't know it was going to happen for this game."
McGeechan was forced to bring the wing Rory Kerr and the hooker Dougie Hall into his squad as cover for Kenny Logan and Robbie Russell, who are on Zurich Premiership play-off duty for Wasps and Saracens respectively. Kerr and Hall will not, however, be included in the party who will leave for the two-Test tour to South Africa next week.
South Africa have named the veteran scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen as their captain for the first Test. The 32-year-old is the Springboks' most capped player, with 79 Test caps since his debut against Argentina in 1993.
SCOTLAND (v Barbarians, Murrayfield, tonight): G Metcalfe (Glasgow), S Webster (Edinburgh), A Craig (Orrell), G Townsend (capt), J McLaren (Bordeaux-Begles), C Paterson, M Blair (both Edinburgh), G Kerr (Leeds Tykes), G Bulloch (Glasgow), B Douglas (Borders), S Murray, N Hines, M Leslie (all Edinburgh), J Petrie (Glasgow), S Taylor (Edinburgh). Replacements: D Hall (Edinburgh), G McIlwham (Bordeaux-Begles), J White (Sale Sharks), A Dall (Edinburgh), B Redpath (Sale Sharks), B Laney (Edinburgh), R Kerr (Glasgow).
SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD (Tests v Scotland, 7 & 14 June): Backs: G Bobo, C Davidson, T Halstead, M Joubert, L Koen, R Loubscher, P Rossouw, A Snyman, S Terblanche, J van der Westhuizen (capt), J van der Westhuyzen. Forwards: R Bands, S Boome, B Botha, D Coetzee, H Gerber, R Kempson, V Matfield, L Sephaka, H Shimange, J Smith, W van Heerden, C Visagie, P Wannenburg.
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