The autumn internationals might have produced a mixed crop of results and performances for Scotland, but a group of former players saw enough to believe that their compatriots can pose a serious challenge in next year's Six Nations Championship.
The autumn internationals might have produced a mixed crop of results and performances for Scotland, but a group of former players saw enough to believe that their compatriots can pose a serious challenge in next year's Six Nations Championship.
A decade on from the magical afternoon in Paris when the Scots ripped through the French defence on a regular basis, Alan Tait, one of the architects of that victory, said yesterday he was convinced there was no reason for the SRU's finest to fear any of their European rivals in the 2009 campaign, but stressed that Scotland could no longer be happy with brave reverses.
As one of the most consummate professionals ever to pull on his nation's jersey, Tait quite correctly believes that 2009 is a time for delivery, not dwelling on respectability. "We shouldn't linger too long on the tries that the boys scored at Pittodrie against Canada - their defence was garbage. But the display against South Africa showed me that the guys have made a lot of progress since the last Six Nations and they have to think they can be seriously competitive this time around," said Tait, who is now on the coaching staff at Newcastle Falcons.
"It might be we have to recognise that, with our small playing base, Scotland will only produce teams which are capable of matching the best every 10 years or so, but we definitely benefited from Frank Hadden taking a lot of new players to Argentina, because some of these lads have added an edge and a steel to the side," he added.
"I don't want us to get carried away. We still lost to South Africa, even though we had chances to win, and we conceded some really soft tries against the All Blacks. But, wherever you look, there are quality players in most positions and other people hunting them down.
"Euan Murray is obviously one to watch for the Lions, so is Simon Taylor, Mike Blair, and youngsters such as John Barclay, Ross Ford, Ben Cairns and Thom Evans have brought a lot to the party. I reckon Nick de Luca and Cairns are very important to us in the future, but we have the forwards now who can provide the spark for the backs, and that is what helped us win the last-ever Five Nations back in 1999."
Much of Tait's optimism was echoed by his ex-colleague, Kenny Logan, but both men appreciate the importance of the Scots' opening fixture on Sunday, February 8, at Murrayfield against the grand slam title holders, Wales.
With three home tussles on their itinerary in the spring, success in that contest could light the touch paper. But anything else and life could once again turn into a long, arduous trek for Hadden's Scottish troops.
"I think we have as good a chance as anybody in the Six Nations, but we should not kid ourselves: the Welsh will roar into Edinburgh and they will be tough to beat," said Logan, who was speaking from Dubai.
"At least we have the platform to attack them now and a pack which is capable of pushing opponents backwards, but it is always a fine dividing line with Scotland.
"Personally, I think we are pushing above our weight at the moment and we should be proud of how close we came to upsetting the world champions, South Africa, because in terms of participation numbers, resources, whatever, they are on a different planet.
"We only have two teams, and yet Frank and Andy Robinson and Sean Lineen have unearthed a lot of pearls, especially Murray, Barclay, the Evans boys Thom and Max and Phil Godman.
"The latter did well in the autumn Tests and I am pleased that we seem to have settled with him at No.10 - Dan Parks has had ample chances and is not the right choice for us in that position. But while I am pretty excited about the Six Nations, we have to be 100% right, mentally and physically for Wales. If we are, we could win three or four matches and who knows what else? But with Italy and Ireland at home, we need three wins to be considered successful."
Ultimately, one suspects there will be no excuses left for the coach if Scotland achieve any less than that target.
But Craig Chalmers, a hero of the 1990 vintage, was right to observe that matters were similar last winter when an inexperienced French contingent arrived in Edinburgh, amidst widespread talk of a Scottish renaissance.
"We lost that game badly, which set the tone for a disappointing season, so the Wales test will be massive: it will define what happens thereafter. We have to be more clinical and take our opportunities in the future, but there's no doubt we have a group of senior players with an awful lot of talent and incentive," said Chalmers.
"Belief will be a big factor. Do we really, inwardly, think that we can defeat the likes of England and France? If we do, then we can be a force to be reckoned with against anybody in Europe."
