Captain Jason White says Scotland are in optimistic mood ahead of their Six Nations opener against France.
Skipper feels Scotland are moving in the right direction
Captain Jason White says Scotland are in optimistic mood ahead of their Six Nations opener against France.
The French visit Murrayfield on Sunday and White is convinced his side can take the opportunity to make amends for their World Cup disappointment.
The Scots were beaten by Argentina in the quarter-finals, but White felt they were making good progress throughout the tournament.
He said: "We feel we made real strides during the World Cup but ultimately we were really disappointed with the way the game went against Argentina, and the fact we were so close but didn't quite make it."
"So this championship is a chance for us to show that we have learned a few lessons from the World Cup.
Confidence
"The form of the two Scottish pro teams is good and we've got a right to have a certain level of confidence, and it's a great game for us to start with.
"There is definitely a feeling of optimism in the camp, but we are not getting ahead of ourselves. We realise we still need to work incredibly hard and do the basics right.
"But the exciting thing is that we've now got a group of players who are maturing a bit, as well as some youngsters who are coming through and look as if they are equipped to make a big impact at international level."
That feel-good factor within the Scottish camp is being mirrored in the nation at large, and White knows how important it is to put on a good show in front of a full house this weekend.
He said: "This game has been a sell-out for a few weeks now, the crowd for this game two years ago was 52,000, so that shows that the public are backing us. We need to show them that their faith in us is well placed."
With wet and blustery conditions predicted for the weekend, it is unlikely the match will be a festival of free-flowing rugby.
Full-blooded
However, White thinks the decision of France coach Mark Lievremont to introduce several new faces to his team will ensure it is still an exciting and full-blooded contest.
"It is a very bold and courageous team selection," said White.
"The players might not have played together too much, but we know that they are 22 guys with very high skill levels, who will be very proud to play for France. So we are not taking anything for granted.
"It's obviously a dangerous time to play France. I don't expect everything to go brilliantly for them, but I expect them to have a real go at us regardless of that.
"You are never really sure what to expect when you play France. Sometimes the game can be quite tight and at other times they show their ability to open up and play some fantastic rugby.
"So it is important for us to concentrate on our basics - to have our defence set really well and a really strong set-piece - and look to work from there."
