Chris Paterson will make his first start of the Six Nations against Ireland © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Frank Hadden | Chris Paterson

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: Scotland

Scotland boss Frank Hadden has recalled Chris Paterson at fullback to face Ireland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Paterson, Scotland's most capped player, makes his first start of the tournament and replaces Hugo Southwell in a starting XV that shows one other change with Alasdair Dickinson replacing the injured Allan Jacobsen at loose-head. Jim Hamilton returns in the second-row and partners Jason White, with Glasgow's Ali Kellock dropping out of the 22. Nathan Hines takes a place on the bench after recovering from a knee injury.

"It will be a close call in the second-row but clearly we'll go with the players we believe give us the best chance of creating the sort of platform that we'll need to win against a fine Irish team," said Hadden. "I've been impressed with Chris Paterson's attitude in this Championship. As ever, he's been the model professional, getting on with his job and he deserves the opportunity to start on this occasion."

Mike Blair leads Scotland from scrum-half, with Simon Danielli and the Evans brothers, Max and Thom, looking to continue the exciting form that they exhibited last time out against Italy at Murrayfield.

Paterson is not sure of the reasons for his recall and was critical of his performance as a replacement against Italy.

"To be honest, I never really did much in the Italy game," he said. "The second half especially was quite quiet. I think that everyone across the board thought that. Two very good tries but, outside that, there wasn't really a flow to the game, and I was really disappointed after that game because I thought, 'Individually, what did you contribute? You never did a huge amount'."

Paterson has already spoke to the man he is replacing, his Edinburgh team-mate Southwell, and is sure that there will be no hard feelings.

"Everything's okay. Both being at the same club, we're good mates, and I think it's been good for both of us," he said. "This season, we've both played pretty well and, certainly, the form he was in recently has been as good as I've ever seen.

"Although I've had quite a big involvement in the first two games already, it is always nice to get a start. I'm just looking forward to it. I was on the bench last season for the opening game, the French game, and I've been on the bench before. The last thing I would ever do is look for an excuse and mope and moan."

Scotland: Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Mike Blair (Edinburgh, capt), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Jim Hamilton (Edinburgh), Jason White (Sale Sharks), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Taylor (Stade Francais)

Replacements: Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Scott Gray (Northampton Saints), Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh)