IT would be understandable if Scotland’s rugby players had spent the entire post-Rugby World Cup period locked in their rooms feeling sorry for themselves, listening to The Smiths and throwing darts at a poster of Craig Joubert. But professional sport is no place for self pity.

Tommy Seymour, the Glasgow and Scotland wing, a try-scorer that fateful day at Twickenham when Scotland came within an errant refereeing decision or two from reaching the World Cup semi-final at the expense of Australia, claims he hasn’t been involved in a single discussion since the squad returned to camp about the cruel blast of the South African referee’s whistle which consigned four years of work to the dustbin.

Or at least he hadn’t been until a room full of journalists asked him to relive it all again this week. The RBS 6 Nations Championship, which begins with a mouthwatering tussle with Eddie Jones’ new-look England at Murrayfield on Saturday evening, will determine whether the Scots can use their World Cup woes as an inspiration, or merely begin 2016 with the mother of all hangovers.

“Personally I can say I have not been involved in one conversation since we have been back in camp about what happened at the end of that game,” said Seymour. “There was a period where it was really hard to take and there was a lot of looking back for a lot of players.

“It was a once in a lifetime thing, you can’t just flip a switch and forget it. But over time, everyone goes back to new clubs, new jobs, and eventually the time you spend thinking about it becomes less and less so you’re not really thinking about it. Then you sit in a room full of reporters and they ask you about it.”

As satisfying as so many other aspects of Scotland’s World Cup were – they were, of course, in a position to see out that quarter- final victory regardless of Mr Joubert’s input – Seymour reckons it is important they aren’t satisfied. There is a sense of a team moving in the right direction under Vern Cotter but too often in the recent past momentum and progress has flatlined.

“What excites me is kicking on from where we were,” said Seymour. “It is about not being satisfied about where we got to, but being excited about where we can get to. If we go out there like we played the last time we were together then we can get results, wins. There is no better feeling than getting wins in a inter- national competition like this.

“At the end of the day there is no-one to look to, bar ourselves. No-one is more keen to shake that kind of pattern. No team wants to go through peaks and troughs on a regular basis. We have certainly mentioned it.”

Quantifying success in the Six Nations isn’t always easy. Last time out, Scotland lost all five matches yet the tournament could still be termed a qualified success as a developmental tool as they bedded in a new head coach and worked towards the World Cup. Perhaps, at the beginning of a new World Cup cycle, it is time Scotland put a marker down by racking up some wins for a change.

A first victory against the Auld Enemy since a 15-9 win in March, 2008, wouldn’t be a bad place to start.

Scotland held a half-time lead at Twickenham 12 months ago but know they need to play for the full 80 minutes plus stoppage time. England, of course, arrive licking their wounds after a brutal World Cup, hurting after a humiliation on their own turf to Australia and, most gallingly, Wales.

New captain Dylan Hartley has form for biting, eye-gouging, punching and head-butting, a rap sheet which clearly marks him out as officer material.

“I am sure they will be hurting,” said Seymour. “That makes them a dangerous beast. There has obviously been a shake-up in there, there are players who want to prove a point and new players getting a chance who also want to prove their point. But we need to focus on us, focus on the World Cup we had, take the good points out of that and see what we can do on Saturday.”

With Scotland adding Richie Gray to their team on a consult- ancy basis as a specialist breakdown coach, and “looking to be more aggressive in that area”, Scotland will meet fire with fire on Saturday. Seymour has also enjoyed working with a new backs coach in Kiwi Jason O’Halloran in a backline which has required remodelling due to injuries to the likes of Mark Bennett, Peter Horne and Alex Dunbar.

“I have played enough with Matty [Scott] and Duncan Taylor to know they are quality players as well and we can adapt,” the 27-year-old said. “It is seamless now.”

Famously born in Nashville, Tennessee, and having spent some of his childhood in Ireland, Seymour is more rational and logical than most when it comes to discussing the unique mixture of emotions which come into play when Scotland face England.

“Emotion is good but it can become disadvantageous if you let it boil over,” he said. “There is a tipping point and you have to be careful not to go over that or it can become your downfall.”