RBS 6 Nations

Paterson, 29, captained Scotland in last season’s Six Nations but Hadden could not find a place for him in his XV for his team’s championship opener this time.

The Gloucester man has won 81 caps for Scotland, scoring 614 points in the process.
But Hadden believes the inclusion of four uncapped players in the France starting line-up is a greater gamble, and insists Dan Parks can handle Scotland’s kicking responsibilities.

Hadden said: “Every time you make a selection, there is an element of risk.

“But I would say that the element of risk with the French selection is far greater than it is with ours.

“I've always had a lot of faith in Dan Parks. He has taken quite a long time to win people over in the country, a lot longer than he took to win me over.

“We considered very carefully Chris' outstanding goal-kicking performance in the World Cup, but the last time I looked Dan was on 81%, which would make him second best goal-kicker in the Guinness Premiership.”

Uncapped Francois Trinh-Duc will play at fly-half in a much-changed France side.

The 21-year-old is joined in new coach Marc Lievremont’s side by three fellow international rookies, winger Julien Malzieu and props Lionel Faure and Julien Brugnaut.

Hadden hands Edinburgh centre Nick De Luca his debut, while Glasgow Warriors flanker John Barclay will make his first Six Nations appearance.