Then, only moments later: “We have to believe we can win. It’s the first game, but we have to believe we can win or there’s no point going down there.”
Paterson heaped lavish praise on the Wales players saying: “Wales’s forwards are tremendously strong, and there is a lot of individual talent in the backs. Shane Williams is a key danger man, so could Rhys Williams be if he plays, and Iestyn Harris has proved himself a world-class player.”
While talking up the opposition, Paterson insisted that his side would travel to the Principality confident of upsetting the odds.
“We are behind the other teams at the moment, but there’s a huge confidence in the Scotland squad, and a much more positive vibe. At our first camp there was a big squad, and it was quite quiet because everything was new. Last week, our second camp, we had a great couple of days together and there was a great work ethic.”
Scottish club rugby has hit the headlines recently with the success of Edinburgh reaching both the Celtic league final and the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, and the added interest north of the border has resulted in a heightened sense of anticipation for this year’s tournament.
In the one hundred and eight clashes between the two nations, Wales are ahead with a 58-47 win-loss record, but history will count for nothing when the Scots, who are touting themselves as confident underdogs take to the Millennium Stadium pitch at 4pm Saturday.
