“I do think having an appreciation for how difficult it is for a 10 helps you in your position as a 15,” said Scotland’s record points-scorer Chris Paterson, who at times in his own career flitted between fly-half and full-back.
“If you’ve played 10, you know what you’re looking for. Then if you drop to 15, by definition, you kind of know what the opposition 10 is looking for.
“So it allows you to be in position quicker, because you can almost read the play.
“The skillsets are quite similar as well. You spend a bit of time in the backfield as a 10, you’ll spend a bit of time kicking as a 15.
“It also helps you take pressure off the 10 you’re playing alongside, because it’s a vulnerable position and it’s an exposed position. Almost every decision feels as if it has to go through the 10.
“His physical attributes – his speed, his size, his height, his ability to dominate space in the air, to catch a ball above his head – and his skill set – his distribution, his timing onto the ball, his kicking – is excellent.
“As a 15, you need to be an all-round package, the physical attributes and the skill set, and he’s got the lot.”
