Scots look to Paterson, the tartan Jonny Wilkinson

Right wing's accuracy with boot gives rank outsiders hope of upsetting England's grand slam hopes at Twickenham on Saturday

It was back in 1911 that Scotland first made their way to Twickenham. They did so with some difficulty. As the West of Scotland prop Charlie Stuart later recalled: "We couldn't find where the entrance was. We had to walk through some allotments to get to it." The Scots were just finding their bearings on the Twickenham pitch that day when, with a few minutes remaining, the London Scottish centre George Cunningham had his shorts ripped from his backside as he raced clear for the line. Rather than have his modesty exposed, he sat down on the turf and Scotland's chance of a draw had gone. They were beaten 13-8, setting the tone for a Caledonian tradition of losing streaks at England's HQ.

Scotland have won there just twice in 65 years, their most recent success dating back to 1983. It is likely to be little different for them on Saturday, when they draw up at the gates of a fortress that has not been stormed by any opposition since the visit of the All Blacks in the 1999 World Cup. At least they arrive with a Six Nations victory tucked under their sporran, though.

After the record defeats against Ireland (36-6) and France (38-3), came the 30-22 win against Wales two weeks ago. There was even a record for Scotland to savour in that morale-boosting Murrayfield success, the 20 points scored by Chris Paterson representing the highest individual tally by a Scot against Wales.

Fifteen of those points were plundered by the right wing's right boot: a six-out-of-six place-kicking display. "I now know what Clive Woodward feels like," Ian McGeechan remarked afterwards, the Scotland coach drawing comparison between his No 14 and England's metronomic master of a No 10.

Not that Paterson would bracket himself with Jonny Wilkinson. Indeed, the merest mention of McGeechan's compliment is sufficient to make the Borderer blush with modesty and sidestep the issue with the dexterity of a back-of-all-trades who started his rugby-playing life as an outside-half with Gala.

"The biggest thing against Wales was the victory and the team performance," he said. "I don't think we should home in on goal-kicking and say it was the single reason for winning. The goal-kicking is something that gets you points but it was the defence that probably won us the match.

"As a squad, we were aware of how we performed against Ireland and France. Everyone has their own perceptions of why we were beaten in those games, but against Wales we cut out the stupid mistakes."

It will take more than the continued eradication of basic errors to upset the overwhelming odds on Saturday, but at least the Scots appear to have found a solution to their long-term propensity for kicking themselves in the foot. Their goal-kicking has consistently undermined them since the days of Peter Dods, the Gala full-back who kicked 11 of Scotland's points in their 22-12 win at Twickenham in 1983.

Paterson could hardly have been more precise with his kicks against Wales, two of which were dispatched from tight to either touchline. "It's a role I enjoy doing," he said.

It is a role the Edinburgh player would enjoy even more if were kicking as an outside-half. The call for him to solve what has become another long-time Scottish problem has reached a clamour north of the border, with the likes of Sean Lineen, Scott Hastings and Dods voicing the opinion that Paterson's pace and natural skills are wasted out on the wing. They want to see him closer to the action, and so does the versatile Paterson, who first broke into the Scotland team as a full-back four years ago.

"I would love to play for Scotland at stand-off," he said, "but it would be very difficult to play in a position for your country if you are not playing in it for your club."

There is talk of Paterson moving south, when his contract ends this summer, to seek a stand-off opening at Leicester, Harlequins or Northampton. His roots, though, are firmly planted in the Scottish Borders – at 24, he is a teetotaller who still lives at home with his parents in Galashiels – and a move to Newcastle might prove more appealing. That would, however, come with the caveat of playing at full-back and playing second fiddle to Jonny Wilkinson when it comes to the taking of kicks.

In the meantime, the prime concern for Paterson is the remainder of Scotland's Six Nations campaign, starting at Twickenham on Saturday. His only visit came two years ago, a record 43-3 defeat. He does have a winning family pedigree on English soil, though. His uncle, Duncy Paterson, a former Gala scrum-half, scored a try in Scotland's second-but-last win at Twickenham, a 16-15 success in 1971.

Thirty-two years on, the younger Paterson is happily relieved that Scotland have avoided being history in this season's Six Nations before they even face their big test south of the border. "If we'd gone to Twickenham with three defeats it would have been quite a battle for us," he reflected. "It's still a massive, massive test, though. It's the same for any team going to Twickenham.

"England are the outright favourites, but we've gained some confidence from the victory against Wales – probably more so from the defensive performance of the team and from the attitude of the team. That's what you need in an international, especially at Twickenham." That, and holding on to your shorts, naturally.