FINN RUSSELL believes Scotland have now developed the mindset required to compete for this year’s Six Nations title.

The Scots have gone into recent championships with high hopes, but despite several eye-catching results, they have lacked the consistency to finish in the top two since they won the last Five Nations in 1999.

Gregor Townsend’s squad is widely deemed to be in its prime and talismanic co-captain Russell feels that, through several positive and negative experiences, they have nurtured the collective mentality needed to turn their undoubted promise into tangible success.