Parker's side opened their campaign with a storming 10-8 win against France before suffering a 28-12 defeat against Wales in a highly competitive game in Bridgend.

But Parker has seen enough in the two performances to convince him Scotland – who had only won one game in the previous two campaigns before their France triumph – are ready to take the next step.

He said: “I haven’t been involved in the women’s game very long but with what I’ve seen so far I’ve been very impressed.

“Against France we were very good and deserved everything we got out of that game and against Wales we were very unlucky.

“We spent so much time working on our defence that we maybe neglected the attacking moves and that cost us.

“But the gap is closing all the time between Scotland and the other nations and we are starting to look like we get a good few wins this campaign.”