2011 Six Nations Championship - France v Scotland
Venue: Stade de France Date: Saturday, 5 February Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One from 1635 (post-match forum on Red Button from 1900-1930); Listen on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

By Mark Orlovac

Consistency is an often-used phrase in sport nowadays. How to find it. How to maintain it.

It is the illusive Holy Grail that coaches around the world are trying to find, no more so than the man in charge of the Scotland rugby team.

Scotland have a dismal record since the Six Nations began in 2000, with only one victory in five of the last six tournaments, securing the Wooden Spoon twice and failing to win Europe's blue-riband event since 1999.

But sprinkled in that poor run have been moments of stardust, beating France and England in the same year in 2006, stunning Australia in a 2009 autumn Test and world champions South Africa last November.

That last victory came only a week after a 49-3 hammering at the hands of New Zealand.

It is no wonder that many pundits do not know which Scotland side is going to turn up. They are becoming almost as unpredictable as France.

Ruaridh Jackson's last-minute penalty against Samoa earned victory

But that All Blacks trouncing aside, there are signs that under the guidance of former England boss Andy Robinson, Scotland are beginning to change that stereotype.

They are one of the form sides in the northern hemisphere, winning five of their last six Tests. That run was launched with a first victory in Dublin since 1998, and featured a first series win (2-0) in Argentina as well as that triumph over the Springboks.

"If you look through history, Scotland have always been able to produce the one-off performances," said Robinson. "What we want is to be able to do that week on week, in our training and also most importantly how we deliver Test matches.

"What the win over South Africa showed us is the level of performance we can get to.

"For all the players involved in that game, and Argentina, Ireland and Australia, it's the confidence of putting those games back to back. From Ireland to Argentina, the players were able to do that.

"We have confidence, there's a very good team spirit, guys understanding their roles, but the New Zealand game was a good reminder for us of where we are."

Robinson - a former England and Bath flanker - was appointed in June 2009 to replace Frank Hadden, and has moulded a squad in his own image - streetwise, hard working and tough as teak.

There's been a lack of confidence in their ability to unlock defences Former Scotland captain Andy Nicol

Former Scotland skipper Andy Nicol, who played for Robinson at Bath, believes the coach has been key to the national side's revival.

"Technically, Andy has always been very good," Nicol told BBC Sport. "He has always understood what is required to win games of rugby.

"He is also very good at getting the best out of the squad of players. Whether that is at Bath, as it was when I played with him, or with England, the Lions or now with Scotland.

"He tailors his tactics to the squad and that is entirely right, you can't have a game plan your squad is not capable of doing. He's managed to maximise what he has got.

"One of his great strengths is that he has managed to get every player on side and really pulling for him. There is a real sense of unity."

Scotland are blessed at present with a settled squad with young bucks such as fly-half Ruaridh Jackson - whose late penalty sealed victory over Samoa in November - Northampton centre Joe Ansbro, Glasgow's 6ft 10in lock Richie Gray and club colleague John Barclay; married together with the experienced heads of fly-half Dan Parks, prop Euan Murray and lock/flanker Nathan Hines.

"Andy has got a lot more than some coaches have had recently. Scotland have got a good batch of players and good coaches need good players," added Nicol.

"There are a lot of injuries around all the countries at the moment but the core of Scotland's team is still there. Even in the areas where we have an injury there is almost equal quality to replace them."

Scotland, though, have been slow starters of late. They have won only one of their opening Six Nations games in 11 years - the 2006 Murrayfield win over France - while they began their autumn series with that heavy All Blacks defeat.

Scotland attack coach and former fly-half Gregor Townsend says the management team have looked at their preparations so they don't get caught cold again.

And Nicol believes Scotland must hit the ground running in this year's campaign, which begins with a daunting trip to Paris on Saturday, a place where they have won twice in 42 years.

"What's worrying is that we didn't play well against France first up last year and we went into the autumn series against New Zealand and did the same," said Nicol.

606: DEBATE If the game becomes open and free-flowing then there could be real problems for Scotland. Lyall123blud

"That needs to be addressed, you can't afford to take a slow start into the Six Nations because if you struggle in the first game, the confidence gets a dent for the second match which is only seven days later.

"It's a difficult thing to address but you just hope that the preparation is such that they remember quickly how to perform at international rugby.

"That is the key because the step up to the New Zealand game was just too great. Let's hope they have learned their lesson from the autumn."

The lack of a cutting edge in the backs has also been an issue. Recently, the sight of a Scotland player crossing the whitewash has been about as rare as a glimpse of Haley's Comet.

In the history of the Six Nations, Scotland's try tally has never reached double figures in a single campaign, last year they managed just three, while Robinson's side have scored only seven tries in the 13 games of his tenure.

There's been a lack of confidence in their ability to unlock defences Former Scotland captain Andy Nicol

Former Lions and Scotland coach Jim Telfer commented last year that they needed to score more tries if they were to consistently mix it with the big boys.

Ahead of the Six Nations, Robinson tried to play down the issue with a blunt 'no' when asked if he was concerned by his team's try-scoring record, but Nicol admits it has been a problem.

"You can win the odd game without scoring tries and just relying on penalties but you are not going to win consistently with that," he said.

"Scotland's lack of firepower in the try-scoring area has certainly been a limiting factor. They have the players to score tries, it's just trying to get it all working correctly at the same time and also a bit of confidence.

"It's not one thing that is the problem. There's been a lack of confidence in their ability to unlock defences, maybe they have taken the safe option at times and gone through the phases in the hope that a penalty will be conceded.

"When you have got someone like Chris Paterson or Dan Parks in the team, three points is the best way of getting points.

"But I go back to our recent results. Even the most fervent of Scottish fans would rather those wins than scoring a few tries, rather than scoring 20 tries in those six games and losing them."

So Scotland begin this Six Nations campaign with a spring in their step and with three home games this year - against Wales, Ireland and perennial strugglers Italy on the final weekend - Nicol is confident they can buck the disappointing trend.

"There's a lot of confidence but also a lot of realism as well," he said.

"Scotland are on a great run and it will give them a lot of confidence, but it doesn't in any way correlate to winning games in the Six Nations.

"But I think with Scotland having a relatively good autumn and three home games, they can look to having a positive win/loss ratio this year."

And that, given the failures of recent years, would be progress indeed.

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