Paterson's pace to lift creativity

Ian McGeechan, who moves from being the hands-on coach next season to succeed Jim Telfer as Scotland's director of rugby, describes the selection of Chris Paterson at stand-off against Fiji as "exciting''. He had better be right, for the performance against France could hardly have been more dispiriting.

Yesterday some of the Scots tackled the Sydney Harbour Bridge walk which, at least, would have broadened their vision. Paterson will be required to inject pace and flair into a Scottish threequarter line that posed little or no threat in the record 51-9 defeat to the French last week.

Reuben Parkinson, who played in the centre for Japan and has first-hand knowledge of Scotland and Fiji, was in no doubt as to the winner of this one. "Fiji will smoke them,'' he said.

Paterson was isolated on the wing against France and tomorrow replaces Gregor Townsend, who moves to outside centre, at the Aussie Stadium . "We want to put two playmakers on the field and we've been trying to build towards it,'' McGeechan said. "We're quite excited about it. We hope it gives our game more options. What we've been disappointed with is that we've been a bit too narrow. We wanted to give Chris the opportunity and we think the time is right and with Gregor at No 13 we can take some positive steps.'' Scotland make four changes from the débàcle against France, with Bruce Douglas replacing the injured prop Gavin Kerr, Nathan Hines coming in for Scott Murray and, in the back row, Ross Beattie for Jason White.

Fiji, who put 50 points on Scotland in Suva in 1998, are coached by Mac McCallion, a former member of New Zealand's SAS. Since being appointed in April 2002, McCallion has been attempting to instil discipline into a team that can be notoriously indisciplined. There is a strong Kiwi influence in Fiji. Aside from McCallion, who worked with Graham Henry in Auckland, Peter Woods, once the New Zealand Sevens captain, coaches the threequarters. And Henry, the former Wales coach, has been employed in the World Cup as Fiji's defence analyst.

The Fijians suffered a number of casualties during their win over Japan, including the stand-off Waisale Serevi, who broke his right collar-bone after seven minutes. They are fortunate to have Nicky Little, of Saracens, at number 10.

"I think we're getting better,'' Little said. "We have made less mistakes as the tournament has progressed and we're not lacking confidence. We just want to play some rugby. This is one of the biggest matches Fiji has had in a long time.'' The same can be said of Scotland who have never failed to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

The winner of the match will play the winner of tomorrow's Ireland-Australia match in the quarter-finals in Brisbane on 8 November.

The Ireland coach, Eddie O'Sullivan, fears his side's World Cup campaign could be wrecked by the interpretations of southern hemisphere referees. O'Sullivan argued that the difference in interpretation of the laws could prove costly for his side come the knock-out stages. He is upset that every one of Ireland's pool games has been refereed by a southern hemisphere official.