SEAN Lamont has been through a lot with Scotland. The dreary years of few tries, the occasional out-of-the-blue surprise, and even a few solid seasons.

At 34, he could have called it a day years ago, and no-one would have begrudged him a break from the rigours of Test rugby. But he has no intention of quitting. For one thing, his 100th cap is now just two games away - if Vern Cotter selects him for Saturday’s Pool B game against South Africa, he could bring up the ton a week later against the Samoans. What is more, he is playing better than ever, and very happy to be a member of a squad that he is sure is superior to all the others of which he has been a part.

“This is the best Scotland squad I’ve been in - bar none,” Lamont said. “There are a few reasons for that: it’s because of the quality of the players we have, and the depth we have, and how close we are as a squad.

“I’m not just saying that because it’s the right thing to say - it’s because I genuinely feel that. It’s a really great place to be with the talent we have in the squad at the moment. It makes me want to stay for even longer. That’s why I’m pushing so hard to stick around.

“It’s a brilliant place to be. It’s so much fun and gives me so much enjoyment. That’s a huge driving factor for myself.”

Lamont, who returned to Glasgow in 2012 after three seasons in Wales with the Scarlets, was part of the Scotland team that beat South Africa in 2006 and came close again two years ago. Having seen them lose to Japan at this Rugby World Cup, he knows the Springboks are beatable - but also accepts they have learned a lot from that defeat and will not make the same mistakes again.

“Top teams don’t do that. It’s the old wounded-animal scenario. Every team has a blip and they seem to have recovered well.

“We know what will be coming at us - they’ll be physical and will try and bully us. You look at the Japan and USA games: both were physical games.

“South Africa are a physical team and if you match them physically it takes away a big part of their game. You saw that in the Japan game. But it’s not the only part of their game.

“We know the test that’s coming at us. We’ve done well in the last two games, but realistically speaking they were the easier of the four teams we were going to play.

“But take nothing away. The boys did well with a four-day turnaround, and the US and Japan are no slouches as they showed against us. Full credit to the guys who did the turnaround.

“We’re sitting ten points from ten, which is a good place to be. For Scotland to have qualified after three games would be something fantastic, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves.”

If and when Lamont does bring up the century, his next target will be the Scottish record of 109 caps set by Chris Paterson between 1999 and 2011. But he believes that, as he has matured, he has learned to put the interests of the squad before any desire for self-aggrandisement.

“Look, from where I’m standing at the moment, if those two caps never come and Scotland go on to win the World Cup? So be it.

“I’ll do all I can. I’d love to get them. But at this point I’m not thinking about me at all.

“It’s squad first. I’ve changed my focus the older I get. You realise it’s not about personal gain - it’s team first and I’ll stand by that. If I stick on this, 98, and am never used again, so be it.”

Paradoxically, though, it is that selfless approach which makes Lamont more likely, not less, to reach his 100. And after that, who knows? He has insisted for some time that he will not announce his retirement, but instead simply keep on turning up until no longer called on to do his bit.

“I want to keep playing for Scotland for as long as I can. I’m going to stick through until my body gives up or I’m not wanted. I feel good. I want to dig in, and the young guys keep me on my toes.

“When I reached 50 I thought the next target was 100. It just creeps up. When I hit the 90s I thought I had another couple of years playing and could sneak up there.

“Yes, it’s a nice little personal goal, but not my sole focus. If they come, they come. It’s not about me at the moment.”