The Rugby World Cup pain that is driving on Hamish Watson

Hamish Watson is determined to put his World Cup pain behind him but knows all of his fellow Scotland hopefuls will be just as motivated to book their place on the plane to France. Watson was cut from the squad ahead of the 2015 World Cup after being part of the summer training camp.

The flanker was a key player by the time the 2019 tournament came about but his Japan adventure was cut short when he suffered a knee injury in the first half of Scotland’s opening game.

The 31-year-old is highly likely to make Gregor Townsend’s squad again but he is taking nothing for granted with major competition for places in the back row from the likes of fellow openside Rory Darge, who captained Scotland in their opening warm-up win against Italy.

The Edinburgh forward, who sat out Saturday’s game, said: “I got injured in the first game of the World Cup last time so I don’t think it was the best showing of myself, which is slightly frustrating. But I don’t think you need any extra motivation.

“It would be great to get another World Cup cap but there is a lot of work to be done before then. I have only played one game in a World Cup so I am obviously massively motivated to try and get to another and hopefully play a few games in it.

“But then so is everyone else. Some people are going for their first World Cup, some are going for their third, so everyone is just as motivated. And it’s pretty tight for spots as well. When you go into these games before a World Cup, you know you might only get one game to show what you can do.

“Obviously the coaches know all the players pretty well anyway, we have good continuity within the squad but you might only get one game so we know we have to be at our best collectively and individually. That is a bit of added pressure but that’s the way it is.”

After watching Saturday’s game at home, Watson is set to be involved when Townsend’s team host France at Scottish Gas Murrayfield this weekend. “There is never really a friendly in rugby,” Watson said.

“There might be a few mistakes, a lot of new players coming into the squad, but France are one of the best teams in the world and we are ranked number five, so it’s going to be a tough game. As players, we prepare like it’s a Six Nations game. It’s a massive game.

“Normally you would have a summer Test and then time off, and even when you play your first club game it’s always tough to get back into it. But France will be in the same boat as well. We are quite lucky, our squad have had one game under their belt.”