Paterson has replaced Dan Parks for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash at Croke Park as Scotland seek to breathe some life into their moribund championship.

Parks' strength lies in his kicking but after scoring a solitary try in their last five matches, the toothless Scots have been forced to exile the Glasgow stand-off to the bench.

Instead, the mercurial Paterson, who has won most of his 82 caps on the wing, will attempt to spearhead an RBS 6 Nations revival - with the ball in hand.

"Putting Chris at 10 is probably a paradigm shift in Scotland's thinking," said O'Sullivan. "I've always regarded Chris as a fantastic footballer. He can run the game very well for Scotland and mix it up.

"Dan Parks brings certain qualities to the team and has a strong kicking game, but Chris offers a different dynamic. He can distribute and kick. We have to look at Scotland a bit differently when Paterson is at fly-half."

With much at stake in Dublin on Saturday, O'Sullivan will be plotting the containment of Paterson in minute detail.