Published: Tuesday, 9th February, 2010 12:11pm

Paterson wins 100th cap against Wales

CHRIS Paterson will become the first Scot to reach the landmark of 100 caps for his country after he was named today in the Scotland team to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Cardiff on Saturday.

The team shows three changes in personnel from that defeated by France at the weekend. Euan Murray, who missed Sunday's match because of his religious faith, returns at tight-head prop for Moray Low; Dan Parks is preferred to Phil Godman at stand-off; and Rory Lamont is back from injury and will line-up on the left wing.

This necessitates a positional switch with Sean Lamont moving to outside centre in place of Max Evans.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson congratulated Paterson. He said: "He has been a fantastic ambassador for the team and it's a tremendous honour for him to win his 100th cap. It's well-deserved and I'm looking forward to seeing him perform at the weekend."

Robinson added: "I'm pleased to welcome Dan back. He comes in after playing consistently well for Glasgow."

Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday is as follows: 15 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) 99 caps ,750 points through 22 tries, 153 penalties, 86 conversions, 3 drop goals; 14 Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps, 5 points through 1 try; 13 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 41 caps, 35 points through 7 tries; 12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 19 caps, 15 points through 3 tries; 11 Rory Lamont (Toulon) 22 caps, 30 points through 6 tries; 10 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors) 47 caps, 103 points through 4 tries, 13 penalties, 16 conversions, 4 drop goals; 9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN 48 caps, 15 points through 3 tries.

1 Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester) 14 caps; 2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 34 caps, 10 points through 2 tries; 3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints) 28 caps, 10 points through 2 tries; 4 Nathan Hines (Leinster) 62 caps, 10 points through 2 tries; 5 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 21 caps; 6 Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps, 15 points through 3 tries; 8 Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 10 points through 2 tries; 7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors); 14 caps, 5 points through 1 try.

Substitutes: 16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 17 caps, 10 points through 2 tries; 17 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 41 caps; 18 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap; 19 Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh) 1 cap; 20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh) 59 caps, 25 points through 5 tries; 21 Phil Godman (Edinburgh) 21 caps, 71 points through 1 try, 12 conversions, 14 penalties; 22 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 7 caps, 5 points through 1 try.

Chris Paterson will be presented with a specially commissioned cap to mark his 100th game at the post-match function on Saturday. Scottish Rugby will also mark Paterson's achievement at their next home match in the Championship - Scotland v England at Murrayfield on Saturday, March 13.

The former Gala star is only the sixth Northern Hemisphere player to do so, and the 11th person in international rugby union.

Paterson follows in the footsteps of some inspirational rugby union players who have achieved this milestone: George Gregan (Australia) 139; Fabien Pelous (France) 118; Jason Leonard (England) 114 (also represented the British and Irish Lions 5 times); Philippe Sella (France) 111; George Smith (Australia) 110; Stephen Larkham (Australia) 102; Percy Montgomery (South Africa) 102; David Campese (Australia) 101; Alessandro Troncon (Italy) 101; Gareth Thomas (Wales) 100.