Scotland managed just one championship victory - over Italy - in two seasons under Australian coach Matt Williams, and support for the national side reached an all-time low.

The union was forced to act and last summer recruited Hadden to rekindle a sense of belief in both the players and the Murrayfield faithful.

It is the start of a long journey - with the opening RBS 6 Nations game against France on February 5 on the horizon - but in Test victories over Romania and Samoa, plus a narrow defeat to Argentina, Hadden has seen enough green shoots to believe a recovery is feasible.

Since I have been in charge, we have won three out of five games - and I think we could have done better than that, he said.

That has given us a wee bit of momentum coming into the Six Nations. There is no doubt our long-suffering supporters will be expecting more from us this time round.

In the past Scotland havent asked too many questions of opposition defences. I am out to change that.

It is an extremely young side, and that gives me tremendous confidence with the next World Cup looming in 2007.

I have watched these young men just get better and better over the last few years, and there are other youngsters who are really knocking on the door now.

Scotlands moment of truth in the 2006 championship comes on the opening weekend.

Unlike last year - when Williams predicted Scotland could win the championship - there were no fanciful statements from Hadden at the tournaments official launch in London.

But he does believe a victory over tournament favourites France at Murrayfield is possible and that it could signal a renaissance in Scottish rugby.

Scotlands history has been one or two occasions of tremendous over-achievement, and I am hoping this is the start of one for us, added Hadden.

The French have shown a level of consistency over the last half-a-dozen games, which has perhaps been missing from them in the past.

They have a formidable array of talent available to them - but we think we have got a pretty good side as well and we will be going into the game with some expectation and a high level of confidence.

If we are as successful as we want to be in the opening game that can generate tremendous momentum, and I have no doubt we are capable of going on a winning run - because we have a side that is good enough.

The Six Nations is a short, sharp competition - and everyone is looking for a bit of luck along the way. Each of the sides is capable of going on a run, and we hope it will be us.