The Edinburgh Gunners player, who has won most of his 33 international caps at wing, has been playing at his favoured stand-off position in this year's RBS 6 Nations championships.

However, after losing their first three games it was expected that the Scotland coach would move his skipper back to the wing and bring in Dan Parks to the stand-off position.

Williams, however, will keep Paterson at number 10 for the game against France at Murrayfield on Sunday and the coach is adamant too much is being made about his captain's supposed dilemma.

He said: We wanted more thrust from the back line and in the game against Italy we weren't getting the pace and angles from the back three that we required and we did consider moving Chris back to full-back for these reasons.

We wanted to take the pressure off selecting Chris at number 10. If we want to pick him at 10 we can and we will but if we want to pick him at 15 if we feel that's the best for the side then we will do that.

It shouldn't be the issue that it is. Chris is one of our world class players and we shouldn't limit his use for the team.

He's still developing in the number 10 role and we are committed to that but we have to decide if it is best for the team if we move him.

And we shouldn't feel that there is unfair bias for him to be a number 10. Just let him be a player and express himself and be the great player he is.

Chris is doing a very good job as captain and part of my consideration was to take that pressure off him and let him play.

We must make sure, as Abraham Lincoln said, we don't weaken our strengths to strengthen our weakness.

Williams insists twice-capped Parks, who will begin the game on the bench, should not be too disheartened at missing out on a starting place.

He said: The obvious question is who else can play in Chris's position and I'm hopeful of Dan Parks' future.

He showed tremendous signs in attack and in his kicking playing for Glasgow and in the very limited opportunities he's had with the national side.

We've been impressed with him at training and he's improving greatly."