Whisper it, there is a feeling things might be starting to turn for Scotland

You don’t have to be an incurable optimist to support Scotland but it helps. Year upon year of sky-high hopes being dashed when reality hit home could make even the most fervent fan start to wonder if that gleam they see in the distance is the light at the end of the tunnel or just another train coming to crush their dreams.

A month ago, that was pretty much how most of them felt. Results had been good, nearly spectacular, so they went into the Six Nations in a buoyant mood but ran straight into the humbling experience of losing to an injury-ravaged Wales side in Cardiff.

So, even though they bounced back to beat France and shock the whole of European rugby with the quality and style that allowed them to add England to their list of victims, there is a note of caution alongside the feel-good factor that produced.