Although Scotland endured a difficult RBS 6 Nations campaign this year, winning just one game and finishing fifth, the silver lining was that it gave Robinson the chance to rotate his squad ahead of the World Cup.

This gave the Scottish set-up the chance to test the waters in terms of a perfect partnership for when they kick things off at the World Cup against Romania on September 10.

One area that is still up for grabs is at scrum-half where although Gloucester’s Rory Lawson was in the No.9 jersey for four Six Nations games, the return of British & Irish Lion Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair, who has 71 Scotland caps, means the role at the World Cup is far from finalised.

And it is this competition for places that Townsend believes will see the Scotland team go right down to the wire.

"Everyone knows the squad will be cut down so no one is guaranteed their place or know they are going," said Townsend, who won the last of his 82 Scotland caps against Australia in the 2003 World Cup.

"As coaches we do know our core group but the players have trained very hard and are all desperate to get in that final 30.

"We have more inter-squad training and two very important games against Ireland and Italy so players will have a chance to put their hand up there.

“We were pleased with a lot of aspects of the Six Nations. Some of the attack play was great and it was where we wanted to be.

"Cusiter missed out through injury but he's back close to 100% so we have another quality scrum-half in the mix so it's a good situation to be in with everyone pushing as hard as they can to get in that starting line-up.

"Sean Lamont moved into the centre for the last three games and was great there - a revelation - so that's added another player to the mix.

"Graeme Morrison has been great in the past but missed the past Six Nations through injury. The likes of Max Evans, Joe Ansbro and Nick de Luca mean we have quality players there and they know they have to play well to keep their position in the team and must fight to get into the side."