Scotland back-row Josh Strauss has insisted that his side are capable of competing for honours at next year's Six Nations.
Vern Cotter's men lost all five of their matches in the tournament earlier this year to pick up the wooden spoon, but their performances throughout the Rugby World Cup, most notably in their narrow quarter-final defeat to Australia, have raised optimism of a brighter 2016 edition.
Hosts England and Italy both crashed out in the group stages of the World Cup, while France and Ireland were blown away in their respective semi-finals this weekend.
Wales did put up a brave fight against South Africa before being eliminated but, having come closest to making the semi-finals of any side from the Northern Hemisphere, Strauss is confident that it will be Scotland's name etched in the trophy next year.
"You go into every competition thinking you can win. I say it all the time. I think we showed in this competition, especially tonight, what we're capable of as a team," Strauss told Sports Mole.
"We didn't come into this game with any doubt that we were going to win. Unfortunately it didn't happen, but if I'm lucky enough to be there we'll go into the Six Nations with every belief that we can win."
Despite Scotland having never won the competition since it switched from the Five Nations to the Six Nations in 2000, full-back Stuart Hogg has also backed his side for glory.
Barney Corkhill
