Scots aim to mark Chris Paterson's 100th cap in style

Tuesday 9 February 2010
Published By: Amy Nicholson
Six Nations > Scotland

Scotland are hoping to put the France defeat behind them and find a way to win against an equally sore Wales team at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

The Scottish scrum creaked like Pavarotti's sofa in the opening game at Murrayfield but Allen Jacobsen is hoping to register two points on the Six Nations table after injecting some enthusiasm into the side when coming on as a 53rd minutes substitute on Sunday.

He told the Scotsman: "Definitely we will be hoping to get a win for Chris which is something we will be targeting for someone who has been a magnificent servant of the game for more than a decade."

Paterson's boot has brought Scotland back from the brink many times in the past, but Paterson, or 'Chunk' to his teammates, hopes that a solid scrum will be the main reason why Scotland are victorious in Cardiff.

Scotland's second half performance against the French offers much to build on, as they shared the points against a strong side who are joint favourites for the Six Nations crown this year.

However, Jacobsen conceded that the two tries from Mathieu Bastareaud in the first half did the real damage and it is that lack of concentration which must be addressed before the weekend.

"If we do these things then we have players capable of performing and stringing together the moves we need - of that I'm certain," he said.

One obstacle on Saturday may be the figures of James Hook, the only stand-out reformer in Wales' defeat at Twickenham last weekend.

The Welsh wonder was head and shoulders above his teammates in the opening game and has vowed to help the side rekindle their attacking style against the Scots in what has quickly become a must-win encounter for both sides.

Posted by Amy Nicholson