Paterson: Murchie has been vital to Glasgow Warriors' success

After overcoming a shoulder injury, Murchie established himself as first choice at Scotstoun in the latter part of last season with British & Irish Lion Stuart Hogg having to settle for a place on the bench.

Murchie played a key role in helping the Warriors reach the final and has picked up from where he left off in the first two games of the current campaign.

And it has led Paterson, Scotland's record appearance maker and points scorer, to highlight the all-round capabilities and rising influence of the 28-year-old.

"I think the great thing about Peter Murchie is that he works so hard and is so determined to keep improving and season-on-season you can see he is very much doing that," Paterson told the Scotsman. "Really, he has become a vital member of the Glasgow back-line.

"I thought that against Cardiff last weekend he was excellent, as he always is, under the high ball.

"But it would be wrong to highlight one part of Peter's game, for his big strength is that he is so solid all-round. I think that his bravery in coming for a high ball or stealing an opposition re-start is particularly appreciated by his team-mates.

"But positionally he is very rarely embarrassed and if he needs to fill in at first or second receiver he is very comfortable in doing that and there is never any panic there.

"You look at the way he kept Stuart Hogg out of the starting line-up at 15 at the end of last season, and now the start of the new campaign - that tells you just how highly Peter is rated at Glasgow.

"Yet because Peter goes about his work in such a quiet fashion he very rarely gets the credit he deserves. I would say that right now Peter is very much in form and that also bodes well for Scotland, going forward."

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