Reliable Paterson puts boot in with a flawless display

PLAYING Test rugby is invariably a test of nerve and one player who knows that more than most, Chris Paterson, believes it was a collective will to prove oneself that carried Scotland to another surprise Calcutta Cup victory.

It was incredible how the 29-year-old managed to retain focus while still picking up the intricacies of Test fly-half play and breathing new life into Scotland's attack, before an unexpectedly early shift back to the wing, yet still reduced his heartbeat sufficiently to coolly kick penalties and punish early English indiscipline. He took his tally to 30 successful kicks since last August, and for the second time in a row at Murrayfield Paterson emerged the match-winner over England.

The Borderer was typically self-effacing in admitting he fears he might miss a kick every time he places the ball, and that he worried about Saturday's gusty winds. Similarly, he insisted that while he relished starting at stand-off for the second successive Test match he was not fazed by the shift sparked by Rory Lamont's injury after just 20 minutes.

"We showed a much more mature performance," Paterson said. "With the kicking, for example, the wind was the big factor, but I can't think of any English kicks that hit the turf; we fielded them pretty well.

"In the past we've been guilty of trying to force them. In the first half we had three or four kicks back-to-back. That was maybe negative in some people's eyes, but it wasn't on to run; it was the right thing to do and, all in all, it was probably our decision-making that won the game."

He spoke of how they also chose to run at England with ball-in-hand in the first half when they felt it was on, after discovering how keeping ball through three and four phases made England back off in defence. This was new territory as all teams have rushed their defence at the Scots over the past two years to force mistakes, and too often Scotland have capitulated.

By keeping the ball in hand and cutting out the recent debilitating errors, Scotland unearthed new opportunity. That they still did not score tries remains a concern, although it paled alongside the all-important final result on Saturday, but one wondered what might have resulted had Paterson been able to stay at ten. The fact Scotland's attack tightened and, at times in the second half, retreated with Dan Parks pulling the strings underlines the need for Paterson to return to the pivotal role against Italy this weekend.

It was also interesting to appreciate the differing perceptions of Paterson, who started this championship on the bench, and Jonny Wilkinson, who may finish England's campaign among the replacements.

Paterson said: "It wasn't flash – it was never going to be in the weather – but towards the end we sat off them and tried to make them play, and that's quite a clever team decision. We realised we were giving away a few yards, but we were much harder to break down when we let them do what they wanted to do in front of us, and then made the tackles.

"That was a team that has got used to playing with each other. We're into the fourth week of the championship and, unfortunately, the things we were expecting to get right at the start of the championship, coming off the back of the World Cup, has taken until now to get right."

Such measured comfort was in stark contrast to Wilkinson's obvious agony. The England fly-half scored three penalties and missed a long-range effort, but he endured a miserable display with the boot in open play and lacked invention with ball in hand. He was substituted with his team behind, for the first time in six years, and had to watch as his replacement Charlie Hodgson enlivened the English team to the extent that Wilkinson may not start against Ireland next weekend.

He had the consolation of becoming the world's top points-scorer with his first kick, leaving behind Welsh marksman Neil Jenkins' total of 1,090, but that was of little comfort to a thoroughly dejected England veteran.

Wilkinson admitted: "It was a tough day for the guys. Scotland play those conditions very well; we have experienced that before and you do feel a little bit helpless at times out there, short of options and things to do.

"A couple of times during the game you would be looking around thinking 'what is the best thing to do now?' and it wasn't so much about choosing the best thing as finding the least damaging thing. When it is like that you know a team has got a good grip on you, and Scotland had that.

"The way you win those games is hang around in the right area of the field and get penalties because nobody really looks like scoring. But three points out there was very hard to find and we didn't make it quite as hard for them as we found it for ourselves.

"Every English player was keyed up and desperate to make an impact, but it didn't flow. When you are in that situation, the responsibility is on everyone to try and find the answers. Everyone out there has a massive role in finding their own percentages, but I don't think it's fair to say any of the guys let themselves down."

That may be hopeful thinking on his part. For Scotland, it remains true that much is forgiven by Scotland supporters when the national team wins this particular fixture, the oldest in international rugby, but it is similarly true that Scotland played well below their capabilities in the first three matches of this great tournament, and must prove now that they can lift themselves for more than purely the Calcutta Cup encounter.

That is a challenge the players and coaches were themselves quick to disseminate in the aftermath of Saturday's uplifting result, that this should not be a one-off, but the point on which to build.

"When you win a big game that's why you play," said Paterson. "Now we have got Italy and Rome seems to be harder for Scotland than anywhere else, because we've had a couple of defeats there.

"But now we can go on from here. It was really important to have that monkey off our backs before we go to Italy."

What the players said in the aftermath of famous victory

MIKE BLAIR

"It's a funny feeling; different emotion to 2006. There's relief. There's been pressure on us and we're just pleased to put in a performance. The defensive effort was outstanding and our defensive kicking was impressive, but I thought we brought a lot to the game as well. We knew it had been a disappointing campaign and I still think there's a lot to work on which is a positive for us now. We all have to work hard to get our skills up to world-class levels like Chris (Paterson] has (in goal-kicking]."

JASON WHITE

"The crowd was fantastic and definitely helped, though I was concentrating too much to notice (the roar] when I came on. We had something to prove, mainly because people have been saying we're rubbish. Matt Williams kept telling us we were rubbish, so we know there's a danger that eventually you believe it unless you keep reminding yourself that you're all good players, just focus on the match and leave all that stuff behind. Now we want to go to Italy and win again."

ALASDAIR STROKOSCH

"We knew we were going to have to defend and front up physically against a heavier pack and I think we did that. You have to take the physical side away from them if you want to beat them and that's what we did. If you enjoy a bit of physical confrontation that was the sort of game you would want to play in. We've not suddenly turned into the best team in the world, but it is good for our confidence and we can look forward to the Italy game now."

HUGO SOUTHWELL

"I thought I'd broken my jaw (in Jamie Noon challenge], but I wasn't coming off – Mike (Blair] told me I wasn't going off as well because there was no cover! I'm delighted. The atmosphere at the final whistle was great, but we're not finished yet. We've had three average performances and we knew this was our last-chance saloon to prove to the public that we are capable of putting a performance together. I think Italy will play more rugby and probably cause us more problems than England."

ALLISTER HOGG

"We knew we could perform. We've been saying for weeks that it's basic errors, individual errors that you can't afford to make at this level and still win, and we cut them out against England. Just two missed tackles in 105 – that's what you have to do at this level. But you also have to believe in yourself, and the players around you, and we hadn't lost that."

FERGUS THOMSON

"The dressing room was buzzing afterwards. It was always going to be physical, but we can match anyone in the forwards and it was good to get stuck in about England. What I enjoy most is getting the ball in hand and running at players, and I got a chance to do that. Hopefully, the win will build up our confidence and momentum leading into the game against Italy."

NATHAN HINES

"(Repelling] the English lineout drives were big, big moments. Had they scored then they'd have been on the front foot and us on the back foot. We took confidence from that and then felt pretty comfortable, especially towards the end. The beard? After the Ireland game I thought I'd shave it off; we hadn't won a game and I thought 'why not?' I have no plans to grow it again."

GRAEME MORRISON

"It was great to be back and unbelievable to win. My parents had flown across from Hong Kong for this one, which made it even more special. I felt surprisingly calm before the game and I'm quite a laid-back guy so when I'm not that nervous it's a good sign. When I first got capped (in 2004] I was having sleepless nights and not eating, so it's definitely a sign that I've matured mentally, as well as physically."