• [Daily Mirror Icon]
• Sport
• Other Sports
• Challenge Cup

Chris Paterson identifies Scotland prop who can star on both international and Investec Champions Cup stage

Still only 19, the Scotland Under-20s star was thrown in at the deep end in the Investec Champions Cup with a first start against three-time winners Toulon

[Paterson is part of the TV team delivering the EPCR Champions and Challenge Cup for Premier Sports this season]

View Image

Paterson is part of the TV team delivering the EPCR Champions and Challenge Cup for Premier Sports this season(Image: Craig Watson)

Scotland have been crying out for tighthead depth behind Zander Fagerson and Chris Paterson believes that Edinburgh teenage standout Ollie Blyth-Lafferty is more than capable of filling that void.

Still only 19, the Scotland Under-20s prop was thrown in at the deep end in the Investec Champions Cup with a first start against three-time winners Toulon.

But in sodden conditions, he more than held his own at scrum-time in a set-piece battle that eventually went the way of the Scots as they claimed a statement 33-20 win to put them in a strong position in the competition.

They will now face more French opposition with a trip to Castres next up on Sunday ( live on Premier Sports 2 from 12.30pm UK) and former Scotland skipper Paterson was hugely impressed with the way Blyth-Lafferty stepped up, having been tipped for the top for a while as a long-term successor to British & Irish Lion Fagerson.

The best thing is giving the opportunity but there was still pressure to deliver and he did. Ollie has been in and around the system for a long time but hes only 19, said Paterson, who is part of the TV team delivering the EPCR Champions and Challenge Cup for Premier Sports this season.

Hes a brilliant kid, his frame, physique and power are almost unique in terms of how big and strong he is. But hes still a young kid who has needed a lot of guidance. His application and his commitment to training and the work he has put in over the last 18 months, probably more, was brilliant to see when the pressure came on in a big European game, he could deliver.

He is still only 19, he had only played 90 seconds of pro rugby the week before for Edinburgh. A lot of development from his point of view, and from quality teammates in training, but you have to deliver. The first couple of scrums, its you that is in there and he did very well.

Tipped for the top for a while now, Blyth-Laffertys progress has been sped up by training alongside a pair of elite loosehead props.

In Lion and Scotland international Pierre Schoeman and current Springbok Boan Venter, he could not wish for a better challenge in training while honing his craft.

And while he has cleared the first major obstacle thrown his way in impressive fashion, Paterson acknowledged that there are no guarantees that everything will go as smoothly.

He added: He would be the first to admit that the work he has done with Boan Venter and Pierre Schoeman in training over the last 18 months, has helped him progress. The need for quality tightheads is a big need and there is a lot of pressure around that because his name has been around for a while now.

I have seen them on the side of the pitch one-on-one talking and gesturing. There is a lot of support for him but he had to deliver and he did. But with younger players, you still need to help them develop even after they have shown they can do it. Young players with one or two games, the future wont be linear but he has got the support around him and hes got the belief. Heres hoping he continues. Hes got the frame to rely on!

Chris Paterson is part of a 40-strong TV talent team at Premier Sports - the home of Investec Champions Cup across the UK and Ireland with every match live including 21 EPCR Challenge Cup games and all the knock-out stages and Finals. Big Games. Bigger Moments - visit www.premiersports.com to join in on this weekend's blockbuster action from EPCR Round 2 for just 11.99 a month @ PremSports.tv

[Daily Mirror Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.