Paterson takes sideways step as Parks returns

Injury to Walker sparks a major overhaul of the Scottish backline

FRANK Hadden's doubts in Chris Paterson as a stand-off loomed as large as the Colosseum in Rome yesterday when the Scotland coach switched plans for the final RBS Six Nations Championship match and handed the stand-off reins back to Dan Parks.

Hadden, and his assistants Alan Tait and George Graham, had been forced into another unwelcome change of tack when Nikki Walker withdrew from the squad on Thursday with an ankle injury. It left them with several choices and while promoting Parks and shifting Paterson back to the wing was the least ambitious, it was always the most likely because it was tried and trusted, and meant less disruption.

Hadden, the most culpable of coaches in failing to afford Paterson the opportunities to develop his skills as a stand-off over the past decade, now appears to be falling between two stools – does he continue with Parks' kicking game or give vent to a more enterprising running style with Paterson at its apex?

The coach admitted last week that he was not disappointed to have to press Parks into action after just 20 minutes of a rain-lashed Calcutta Cup, but it is clear that the coach remains unconvinced that Paterson has the ability to take Scotland forward even on a dry and sunny Roman afternoon.

This was despite him stating this week, before injury intervened: "(Italy] remind me a little of ourselves as they're trying to play the way we tried to play a couple of years ago. I know that trying to play expansively brings confidence to players and develops them as players.

"I recognise what Nick (Mallett, Italy coach] is trying to do with the team, and hopefully that gives us an advantage as we should be familiar with defending against that style of attack. But there's no doubt that if we don't continue to raise the bar, or if there's any hint of complacency from last weekend then we will be in for a very tough afternoon."

Parks, at his best, is able to play the territory game superbly well and put Scotland in positions from which to strike with his peerless kicking game, but the Glasgow stand-off has not been in top form since returning from the Rugby World Cup, he does not offer much more of a threat at Test level and, invariably, over the past year, the Scotland team have not been able to strike from the platforms he provides.

The tally of two tries in the past seven Test matches, and just one in this championship – Italy are currently bottom in the table, but have managed four – is not Parks' fault, but has pointed to a need for a different approach from Scotland if they are to find a more potent attack.

Paterson began to spark something more threatening in Ireland and laid the foundations for victory over England with a first quarter in which they did not know where the Scots attack was coming from next. One could argue that their traditional last-quarter backlash had been drawn from them by both the physical intensity of the forward battle and also the tiring first quarter they endured. It may be harsh, but Paterson's threat is nowhere near as obvious now from the wing and his size, among the modern behemoths of wing play, can make him vulnerable to turnovers.

But, again, he is invaluable anywhere on the pitch especially when Scotland play a tighter game, because he provides the points from his stunning goal-kicking rate – now at 30 consecutive kicks since last August. Clearly, however, he still has some convincing to do with Hadden in terms of his overall fly-half play and, with the player turning 30 in a fortnight, there must be doubts as to whether he ever will.

Hadden said: "It's somewhat typical of the ill-luck we've had with injuries since the World Cup that we've lost Nikki Walker for our final match of the Championship. But we've made the changes with a view to giving us the best possible chance of victory tomorrow."

Underlining Scotland's bad luck with injuries, just four Scots started in the same position in this fixture last year and only eight started the last match between the sides, in the rain of Saint Etienne during the World Cup, in the same jerseys. Hadden and his assistants have stuck with the risky move of just two backs on the bench, though Henderson provides one more option than Parks.

But, irrespective of who is in the pivotal position and what style of attack they employ, this Scotland squad has the quality to win this colourful final fixture of the championship and lift the morale of supporters another notch from the Calcutta Cup.

The forwards have to perform well in the set-piece against a formidable Italian eight, and provide the same dynamism and discipline at the breakdown that helped outsmart England, but with no wins in this championship, and knowing a five-point victory would hand Scotland the wooden spoon, again, they will batter into contact, spoil rucks and fight for every scrap until the final breath of this game.

Simon Taylor knows the talents of his opposite number, Italian skipper Sergio Parisse, well from Stade Francais, but another dominant display in attack and defence from the Scot, and back row colleagues Alasdair Strokosch and Allister Hogg, will build the platforms for the visitors to dominate the Italian trio and provide Blair and Parks with the space and time to control the match.

What Paterson may or may not have brought to the side from stand-off is now irrelevant; this Scottish squad has to uncover the level of teamwork, skill, determination and precision to prove that the Calcutta Cup win was not a one-off.

Rollercoaster ride from pillar to post
CHRIS Paterson would be forgiven for wondering if he has been coming or going during the 2008 RBS Six Nations Championship.


30 JANUARY

• Scotland coach Frank Hadden springs a major surprise as Paterson is dropped from the starting line-up for the opening game against France. Dan Parks is selected at stand-off, with Hadden citing Paterson's lack of game-time as a contributory factor.

3 FEBRUARY

• The biggest cheer of the day at Murrayfield is reserved for the appearance of Paterson in place of Dan Parks, but with only 19 minutes remaining there is no chance of turning the tide in a match that was already lost.

6 FEBRUARY

• Paterson is restored to the starting XV to face Wales, but at full-back.

8 FEBRUARY

• On the eve of the Cardiff match, Paterson is switched from full-back to the left wing after an injury to Simon Webster.

9 FEBRUARY

• Plays 68 minutes on the wing against Wales, then is switched to stand-off for a futile final 12 minutes.

19 FEBRUARY

• The team to face Ireland lists Paterson at stand-off, with Parks on the bench.

23 FEBRUARY

• Paterson gets 66 minutes at stand-off before being shunted to full-back as Dan Parks comes on at No10.

4 MARCH

• Next up are England and Paterson is named stand-off, Parks on the bench.

8 MARCH

• After only 20 minutes of the Calcutta Cup match, an injury to Rory Lamont sees Paterson switched to the wing and Parks installed at stand-off.

11 MARCH

• For the final match of the campaign against Italy, Paterson is at stand-off and Parks is on the bench. Not for long,

14 MARCH

• For the third time in the campaign, Paterson loses his stand-off berth to cover an injury to a winger, this time Nikki Walker. Second-choice Parks again takes over the pivotal No10 role.