Five defeats - including a 13-6 reverse at Italy - sealed a most unwanted Wooden Spoon and left Strokosch and co. facing some home truths.

A period of reflection has failed to quell the embarrassment but has equally allowed the Gloucester flanker to see the undoubted progression.

That progression – Scotland outplayed England and unearthed some gems in the shape of David Denton and Stuart Hogg – buoyed the 29-year-old and convinced him that Andy Robinson is the man to take Scotland forward.

Those five defeats left Robinson’s RBS 6 Nations record as just two wins from 15 games and the inevitable calls for his head.

The former England coach has since been re-assured he’ll remain at Murrayfield up until the 2015 Rugby World Cup – a decision Strokosch backs to the hilt.

“There were all the usual emotions after the Six Nations had ended,” he said.

“Frustration, but also embarrassment at the results especially having put in so much hard work.

“We had some good performances and we are definitely a better team than the results imply but it didn’t work out.

“I definitely think there needs to be patience with Andy though. The wins to losses ratio doesn’t look good but if you look at how the performances have changed over the last four to five years it has improved a lot.

“You have absolutely got to back the coach and believe in what he is doing.”

The chance for redemption comes quickly for Strokosch and co. this summer with clashes against Australia, Fiji and Samoa in June.

The likes of Hogg, who impressed at full-back and scored his first international try in the defeat to France, and Denton – a towering influence at No. 8 – will be looking to avoid a hangover from their Six Nations breakthrough.

But for Strokosch it is the memory of past glories that leave him convinced that this summer, and next year’s RBS 6 Nations campaign, can see the Scots deliver on their potential.

Scotland’s Six Nations struggles have been far from mirrored against the southern hemisphere outfits since Robinson’s appointment.

Early in his tenure Australia were downed on home soil 9-8. Back-to-back wins in Argentina on the summer tour of 2010 were the followed up by home wins against then world champions South Africa in the autumn.

“We have got a good record against the southern hemisphere teams and have got good results against them so we take heart from that,” added Strokosch.

“The Scotland side is almost the opposite to my club rugby with Gloucester, where we have a wealth of talent in the backs, in that we have a fantastic pack up in Scotland with the likes of David Denton and Ross Rennie in there and we build our team around that a little bit.

“However there are a couple of lads behind the scrum like Stuart Hogg that have come through and it is almost like a new generation, they have got a lot of talent.”