Opportunity knocks for young Scots

Scotland's win over England could not paper over the cracks

Having gone a long way to redeeming themselves for an awful Six Nations Championship with a final match win over England, Scotland have the opportunity to silence a few more critics when they visit New Zealand.

Beset by injuries to a number of first-choice players, expectations are not overly high.

If Scottish teams ever thrive, however, it is often in adversity - and conditions do not come much more adverse than facing the might of the All Blacks with an under-strength team.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan

The stage is set for the Scots to win back some lost respect, though defeat by some of the "lesser" opposition could see their reputation fall to an even lower ebb.

Coach Ian McGeechan has never doubted the abilities of his Scotland side, and with talents like Gregor Townsend, Andy Nicol, Scott Murray and Duncan Hodge, he has no reason to do so.

But a season which started with great expectations quickly developed into something altogether less grand.

Embarrassing defeats

Defeat by an Italian side playing its first match in the new Six Nations Championship need not necessarily have been embarrassing in itself.

But the manner in which Scotland feebly succumbed to the powerful, but surely less talented Italians, was difficult to swallow.

A record defeat by Ireland at Lansdowne Road followed two weeks later, to confirm the belief that Scotland's main aim would not be the retention of the championship, but rather the avoidance of the wooden spoon.

Consecutive defeats by France at Murrayfield and Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff meant that only an unlikely victory over unbeaten England could save face.

Great Scots hope Gregor Townsend

An heroic performance in the wind, rain and mud at Murrayfield left England bewildered and beaten.

That victory cannot, however, disguise serious deficiencies in the Scotland set-up.

Much has been made of the quality of the domestic league competition in Scotland.

With the best home-based Scots players playing for the two superteams, Edinburgh Reivers and Glasgow Caledonian, support for club rugby has dwindled.

The superteams have not performed well in the Welsh Scottish League and, despite an improvement last season, calls have been made for a further shake-up.

The retirement of stars such as Alan Tait and Gary Armstrong has not helped the international cause.

This tour represents an opportunity for emerging players to establish themselves on the international arena and pave the way for the rehabilitation of Scottish rugby.