Michael Paterson wins Gatorade Game Changer award

Sale lock Michael Paterson has won April’s Gatorade Game Changer award on the back of his sensational display at Exeter.
With one try, 18 carries, seven defenders beaten and eight tackles, Paterson was the stand out performer for the Sharks in a game they won 55-12.
“It was a great occasion for the club. The boys went down there in the past and hadn’t won so it was great to do it this year,” he excursively told The Rugby Paper.
“We were a bit nervous at the start given their home record but we showed in the first 20 minutes we were up for it and we kept going for the rest of the game.”
Paterson joined Sale last summer after three seasons with the Cardiff Blues and has been the leading force in Steve Diamond’s pack steering them to European qualification.
With an English grandfather, the Kiwi-born qualifies for England and there have been calls for him to tour his native country next month.
On Saturday, Paterson will face Leicester and Ed Slater – one of his rivals to earn a call from Stuart Lancaster – in what could be seen as an England trial but he is fully focussed on the Sharks for now.
“It’s out of my control,” he added. “I’m just going to do my job for the Sharks. All I can do is put my hand up, play well and whatever happens after that happens.”
“I haven’t had any contact with Stuart Lancaster yet so I’m just going to keep going for the Sharks. With some locks involved in the Premiership play-offs, there might be an opportunity for me to get involved but it’s out of my control.
“It’ll be a huge encounter against Leicester on Saturday. We’ve got to back our Exeter performance up but if we play with the accuracy we had down there it’ll be a good contest.
“It will start up front with the set-piece. If we can look after the ball and be patient hopefully the backs can get us over the try-line.”