Befitting a man with the middle name Victor, Alan Tait has never been interested in contemplating defeat.

Befitting a man with the middle name Victor, Alan Tait has never been interested in contemplating defeat. For this peripatetic, code-crossing character, equally comfortable in the realms of Eddie Waring and Bill McLaren, challenges are opportunities to be seized. Although the Borderer is only 5ft 10in tall, his philosophy can be summed up in the sentiment: "It's not about making the big tackle, it's about making the right tackle."

A decade ago, Tait, fresh from playing a central role in the British and Irish Lions' triumphant tour of South Africa in 1997 and sparking a gradual renaissance in his country's fortunes the following season, relished his involvement in the last Five Nations Championship. The Scots, written off ahead of the tournament, delivered the perfect riposte to the critics by orchestrating thrilling successes against Wales, Ireland and France to ensure their triumph in the world's oldest rugby event.

It was a rare period to savour for Scotland since the advent of professionalism and yet Tait is in no doubt that these next few weeks offer his compatriots a great opportunity to produce their own heroics.

Yes, he admires the Wales team, the reigning grand slam champions, whom he expects to provide a stern test for Mike Blair's men at Murrayfield on Sunday. But, casting his gaze over the fixture list, and studying the range of options which are available to Frank Hadden, the national coach, Tait believes this Scotland side not only could but should blossom into an auspicious force.

"The schedule really couldn't have worked out better for Scotland and, personally, I think this has to be the year where promising players rise to the next level," said Tait, who gained 27 caps in the union code, as well as representing Great Britain 16 times in the league domain.

"You can't ask for more than three home matches and Wales first up is good, because we have a good record against them in Edinburgh. All the pressure will be on them to move the ball wide, whatever the weather, and the Scots have a range of options and a set of quality forwards, which should ensure they can go toe to toe with anybody in the championship.

"I'm not putting pressure on the lads. But the truth is that, for those guys who are in the 27, 28, 29 age bracket - the likes of Mike Blair, Euan Murray, Jason White, Simon Taylor and Chris Paterson - there might not be too many better opportunities to be challenging for titles and tilts at grand slams than this season. They have to grab the chance by the scruff of the neck.

"In pro rugby, winning your home matches is absolutely crucial and so is building up momentum.

If Scotland perform to their potential against Wales, I reckon they can beat them, and then they will be heading over to France, who are suffering all sorts of problems at the moment.

"Honestly, I can't quite fathom what is happening over there," added Tait. "The coach Marc Lievremont has experimented with 57 different players in the last year and yet, judging from how Glasgow tore Toulouse apart on their own patch, and how the French sides struggled generally to make an impression in the Heineken Cup, they are toiling at the moment.

I don't view them as a big threat in the Six Nations.

"A big part of their problem lies in the huge number of foreigners who are flooding in to the domestic French game. It's ridiculous. As somebody who used to work with age-group sides, I remember some of their under-19 lads who were brilliant. Yet they seem to have vanished off the map in the last few years. You can bet France won't have these problems for ever so, if ever there was a time to play them, this is it.

"The same applies, to some extent, toEngland this season. They have a lot of promising youngsters and might be the dark horses this time around, but I think it is asking a lot of the 21 and 22-year-olds to make their mark immediately.

"So, the Scots have to be ruthless, nail the home wins and grind out results by whatever means are required. When I look at the squad, Frank has more talent at his disposal than ever before."

Tait isn't one of life's cockeyed optimists. He appreciates that luck might prove to be a significant factor, as well as the interpretation of referees and the accuracy of each sides' kickers.

In that regard, he would stick with Paterson at full-back - "he's as steady as a rock" - with Ben Cairns and Nick De Luca, Thom Evans and Sean Lamont to provide the pace and penetration in the back line and Blair and Phil Godman as the half-back pairing. This ignores the merits of such individuals as Hugo Southwell, Graeme Morrison and Max Evans, but Tait also recognises the whole 22 in the squad will have decisive parts in the process.

"When we tackled Wales in 1999, Isat out the first half and came on forDuncan Hodge in the 47th minute, so you have to go with your instincts and change things as and when it is necessary," said Tait.

"It's good to have too many guys fighting for places rather than too few, and, let's face it, the Scots face Wales on Sunday and then France the following Saturday, so it is a pretty quick turnaround.

"The key, the absolute critical thing, is to get started with a win. If they manage that, anything is possible this year."