Mike Blair has warned that Ireland will provide Scotland with the acid test to their progress under interim head coach Scott Johnson when the Six Nations resumes at Murrayfield next weekend.
The Scots earned praise for the way they bounced back from the opening-day defeat to England to comprehensively sweep aside an Italy team that arrived in Edinburgh buoyed by their shock victory over France.
Blair, who only retired from international rugby last month after earning 85 caps for Scotland, was thrilled to see his former team-mates pluck out a performance that has had Johnson and No 8 Johnnie Beattie claim a championship title is not beyond them.
However, whilst the display hinted at better times ahead for the men wearing the thistle, Blair reckons an Ireland team smarting from defeat to England in Dublin will provide a stern examination of the Scots’ credentials on Sunday week.
He said: “This group of players have shown that they can win, and win well, against Six Nations opposition.
“This was done by tactical nous, taking your opportunities, being fearsome in defence and destructive on the deck.
“But everyone knows one swallow doesn’t make a summer and, as Italy have learned, backing up a winning performance doesn’t come easily.
“I look forward to seeing the team building on this victory in two weeks, and against Ireland at Murrayfield we will see how much progress has been made. Certainly the signs are positive.”