News

Paterson feeling adventurous

May 28 2008

Chris Paterson believes a more expansive team will travel to Argentina this weekend as Scotland look to lay the ghost of an "unacceptable" Six Nations campaign to rest.

The 30-year-old's goal-kicking has been a vital source of points for Scotland this season, but he has been left frustrated by the team's lack of potency with the ball in hand.

Paterson failed to hold down a regular starting spot at Gloucester this season and that was undoubtedly a key factor in his decision to rejoin Edinburgh.

But he is determined to accentuate the positives ahead of a tour in which Scotland will seek success to improve chances of a favourable draw at the next World Cup.

"We have to draw a line in the sand after the Six Nations," said Paterson.

"In many ways what happened in the Six Nations was unacceptable, and the players know that better than anyone.

"That has to be reversed and I'm sure that by being a bit smarter and a bit more adventurous we can turn things around.

"There are a lot of fresh faces in the squad now who are here on merit because of what they have achieved in the Magners League, and they have brought a whole new buzz and excitement. I'm excited to be here challenging for a place.

"I feel as if there is a whole different mindset and a whole different approach.

"We've looked back at the Six Nations for certain things, as you have to do, but the majority of our preparation has been about looking forward to the next fortnight and the two games in Argentina."

"We understand how difficult it is going to be.

"With small pitches, physical guys and quick games, it is going to be frantic, but hopefully that will suit us and we can get in there and show what we are really capable of.

"We have to make a statement and show to ourselves and everyone else how much we want to put the Six Nations behind us - to start afresh and be a bit more adventurous."

Paterson is happy with his own physical condition, despite his absence from the Gloucester first team throughout the last month of the season.

"I feel great," he said. "Although I didn't play the last few weeks for Gloucester, I was involved in 17 games before that and we were training pretty flat out right up until last Sunday, so its not as if I've been sitting doing nothing.

"I played in every game of the World Cup and I was involved in every game of the Six Nations, so that's 10 internationals, which is a hell of a lot.

"So hopefully my body has recovered a bit after not being exposed to that much rugby towards the end of the season and I can really put in a big shift in these last two games."