IT was just over three months ago the Scotland team trudged off the park knowing that their loss to Japan meant they would be heading home from the Rugby World Cup earlier than they had planned.

It was, though, the Scots’ opening loss to Ireland which was so devastating.

A 27-3 mauling at the hands of the Irish was the worst possible start to the biggest rugby tournament on the planet but next weekend, Scotland have the chance to exact some revenge.

Gregor Townsend’s men will travel to Dublin for their opening fixture of this year’s Six Nations and given the manner of their loss at the World Cup, there is much room for improvement.

Grant Gilchrist was part of that Scotland team which so disappointed in Japan last year and is quick to admit that he and his compatriots are keen to get one back at Ireland when they clash at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday.

But he is under no illusions that they must put on a hugely improved performance in Dublin if they are to reverse the result of last September.

“We know we owe them one from the way we played in the World Cup,” said the lock.

“As a group we know we weren’t good enough, it’s as simple as that. It’s a new campaign and we’re a new group, but for the guys that were involved the last time we know it wasn’t good enough the last time we played them. That really affected massively our World Cup campaign, the way we started, so we know the areas where we need to be better against Ireland.

“We know what we’re focusing on and the size of the challenge that awaits in Dublin.”

In Japan, Ireland were 12-0 ahead within fifteen minutes and won the physical battle with ease.

It does not take a genius that Scotland are going to have to make some significant improvements in key areas if they are to put up more of a challenge on Saturday but Gilchrist is in no doubt as to the most important area in which they must improve.

“Defensively,” the Edinburgh forward said.

“We’ve targeted that already and have spent a lot of time on our defence.

“Thinking back to that (Ireland) game, certainly the kicking game, controlling territory and playing in the right areas is going to be huge.

“We probably overplayed against them, which has happened the last couple of times when we have played into their hands by overplaying in our own half, and then giving them what they want, so we have to be smart. That’s something we’ve been building on.

“We know we need to be harder to beat, and that we can’t be conceding the number of points we were in the World Cup.”

There could well be a different look to Scotland’s defence this tournament, with the long-serving coach Matt Taylor having left the national team to join Australia and Steve Tandy coming in.

The Welshman has only been in post for a month so sweeping changes are perhaps unlikely but Gilchrist admits that a fresh set of ideas has been a welcome addition to the national set-up.

“There have been changes straightaway, and that’s obviously refreshing as players because I think Tatsy (Matt Taylor) was a great defence coach for Scotland over the time that he was here but a change in philosophy is always refreshing for players,” he said.

“This is something completely new, and it’s been completely clear from the start what we’re about, and it’s different. We’re working on imposing ourselves in a different way defensively and hoping that the work we’re putting in is going put us in a place to showcase that against Ireland.”

Townsend has named Stuart Hogg as captain for the tournament, with the Exeter full-back taking over from Stuart McInally who captained the team at the World Cup.

Giving Hogg the armband was not necessarily the obvious choice but having spent the past week in the Scottish squad’s training camp with Hogg, he believes the 27-year-old is taking his new role in his stride.

And with a number of the more experienced players on hand to offer additional leadership support, Hogg will never feel like he has no one to turn to for advice.

“I don’t there’s been much change, he’s been a leader in this team for a long time,”

said Gilchrist.

“So I think it’s business as usual, there’s not been a massive change. He’s spoken to the boys and always speaks well as he had done down the years. There’s maybe a little bit more onus on him but there’s good leadership around him. Certainly he’s developed as a leader over the past four or five years.”

“He will still be a cheeky chappie. I’m sure he won’t want to be serious all the time but he’s definitely a guy who takes his rugby very seriously. Anybody who has ever trained or played with him knows that. When you’re off, you’re off and it’s important we have a good time off the field. That togetherness is important but with Hoggy and the rest of the boys we switch on when we’re in a rugby situation and ready to and take things on board from the coaches.”

And for McInally, who was unceremoniously dropped from the starting line-up against Japan at the World Cup, the public perception might be that being relieved of the captaincy alters his role within the team considerably, in reality, there is little change.

“I think (McInally) learned a lot from it. He’s not changed either. I think he’s an outstanding leader,” Gilchrist said.

“He’s captain at Edinburgh and was a great captain for Scotland. His role to the outside public might change a lot but internally it won’t. We always have a leadership group. It’s never one man. He will find himself with as much responsibility away from the public eye as he did before in-house.”

“I didn’t think (the captaincy) burdened him that badly. That was a perception. Hoggy’s going to be a good captain for us and it’s not going to change how Rambo (McInally) goes into games. We’ll need all the leadership we can during the Six Nations.”