PATERSON WINS 100th CAP AS SCOTLAND MAKE THREE CHANGES IN PERSONNEL FOR WELSH CLASH
Chris Paterson will become the first Scot to reach the landmark of 100 caps for his country after he was named today in the Scotland team to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Cardiff on Saturday.
The team shows three changes in personnel from that defeated by France at the weekend. Euan Murray, who missed Sunday's match because of his religious faith, returns at tight-head prop for Moray Low; Dan Parks is preferred to Phil Godman at stand-off; and Rory Lamont is back from injury and will line-up on the left wing.
This necessitates a positional switch with Sean Lamont moving to outside centre in place of Max Evans.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson congratulated Paterson. He said: "He has been a fantastic ambassador for the team and it's a tremendous honour for him to win his 100th cap. It's well-deserved and I'm looking forward to seeing him perform at the weekend."
Robinson added: "I'm pleased to welcome Dan back. He comes in after playing consistently well for Glasgow."
Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday 13 February, kick-off 2pm
15 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) 99 caps ,750 points through 22 tries, 153 penalties, 86 conversions, 3 drop goals
14 Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps, 5 points through 1 try
13 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 41 caps, 35 points through 7 tries
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 19 caps, 15 points through 3 tries
11 Rory Lamont (Toulon) 22 caps, 30 points through 6 tries
10 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors) 47 caps, 103 points through 4 tries, 13 penalties, 16 conversions, 4 drop goals.
9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN 48 caps, 15 points through 3 tries
1 Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester) 14 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 34 caps, 10 points through 2 tries
3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints) 28 caps, 10 points through 2 tries
4 Nathan Hines (Leinster) 62 caps, 10 points through 2 tries
5 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 21 caps
6 Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps, 15 points through 3 tries
8 Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 10 points through 2 tries
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 14 caps, 5 points through 1 try
Substitutes
16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 17 caps, 10 points through 2 tries
17 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 41 caps
18 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
19 Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh) 1 cap
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh) 59 caps, 25 points through 5 tries
21 Phil Godman (Edinburgh) 21 caps, 71 points through 1 try, 12 conversions, 14 penalties
22 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 7 caps, 5 points through 1 try
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).
Touch-judges: Alain Rolland (Ireland) and Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).
Television Match Official: Geoff Warren (England)
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PATERSON JOINS THE ELITE CLUB
This weekend will see Chris Paterson reach 100 international appearances for Scotland. He will be the first Scotsman to achieve this, the sixth Northern Hemisphere player to do so, and the 11th person in international rugby union. Paterson follows in the footsteps of some inspirational rugby union players who have achieved this milestone:
George Gregan (Australia) 139
Fabien Pelous (France) 118
Jason Leonard (England) 114 (also represented the British and Irish Lions 5 times)
Philippe Sella (France) 111
George Smith (Australia) 110
Stephen Larkham (Australia) 102
Percy Montgomery (South Africa) 102
David Campese (Australia) 101
Alessandro Troncon (Italy) 101
Gareth Thomas (Wales) 100
Paterson is the first male Scottish rugby player to reach 100 caps for his country but he joins a list of names, some well-known and some not so well known, who have represented their country 100 times.
This list is by no means exhaustive but Scottish Rugby salutes all those who, like Paterson, have achieved such a milestone.
Donna Kennedy also plays rugby for Scotland and currently has 104 caps for the women's team.
Scottish football has seen Kenny Dalglish (102) and his female counter-parts Julie Fleeting (106), Gemma Fay (108) and Pauline Hamill (128) gain over 100 caps for Scotland.
Scottish Hockey has seen Niall Stott (107), Graham Moodie (109), Mark Ralph (128), Linda Clement (136), Vishal Marwaha (155) and Emma Rochlin (155) all representing Scotland at both indoor and outdoor hockey.
Scottish Cricket has some 14 players who are listed as having made 100 or more appearances in both three-day and one-day cricket. The list is headed by Craig Wright (194) and Ryan Watson (187)
NOTES TO EDITORS
Chris Paterson will be presented with a specially commissioned cap to mark his 100th game at the post-match function on Saturday. Scottish Rugby will also mark Paterson's achievement at our next home match in the Championship - Scotland v England at Murrayfield on Saturday 13 March.
For further information please contact
Graham Law
Scotland team media manager
Tel: +44 (0)131 346 5164
Mob: +44 (0) 7764 178940
Fax: +44 (0)131 346 5192
email: graham.law@sru.org.uk
www.scottishrugby.org