But one man they will not be able to call upon is Blair after the 31-year-old announced he has hung up his international boots, finishing his ten-year Scotland career with 85 caps to his name, 14 as captain.

Blair also has seven tries to his name in a Scotland shirt and Johnson will be hoping that Chris Cusiter recovers from injury in time to star in the Six Nations, with the likes of Henry Pyrgos, Rory Lawson and Greig Laidlaw his other options for the No.9 jersey.

And it is this list of players waiting in the wings that made Blair’s decision to step down from Scotland duty a far easier one with the World Cup looming on the horizon.

"I'm in the very fortunate position of being able to decide myself when my international career ends, for me, that time is now,” said Blair, who moved from Edinburgh to Brive in the summer. 

"A place in the squad at the World Cup in 2015 is not a realistic personal target and, with that in mind, it's right for Scottish rugby and the Scotland team, that other players gain experience in a pivotal position.

"There's no doubt that moving our family to France has played a part in my decision. Our son Rory is now at school here and we have an 11-week-old daughter, Lucy, who was born in Brive.

"However, it's a combination of reasons that's led to my standing down from international rugby, not just one factor. 

"I have enjoyed immensely representing my country for more than ten years and will miss that exhilarating feeling of running out to a capacity crowd with the whole country behind you. 

"The noise when leading the team out for the first time as captain at Murrayfield against England in 2008, when we won 15-9, still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up when I think about it.

"I want to thank everyone - my family, the Scotland management teams past and present, my team mates and our supporters - for their enormous contribution to my international career. I have been very fortunate to have these people around me."