But after two miserable campaigns under Matt Williams, it was not until Scotlands emphatic victory over France on the opening weekend of the season that the wider public began to believe the hype.

Only 50,000 fans attended the France match, and at that time 9,000 more tickets had been sold for Scotlands next home game against England - which will take place on Saturday.

But when the remaining tickets went on sale on the Tuesday morning after that famous Scotland victory a large queue had formed outside the Scottish Rugby Union ticket office at Murrayfield by 5am, and by lunchtime all 8,500 remaining tickets had been sold.

Saturdays match will be Scotlands fourth at Murrayfield this season, but it will be the first full house at the home of Scottish rugby since legions of Irish and Welsh supporters helped pack the stadium to its rafters when those countries played here last February.

Scotlands victory against France has clearly given the rugby public a boost - and according to Jason White, their renewed faith in Scottish rugby will be a key motivating factor if Scotland are to record a famous upset against the English.

Sometimes you are so caught up in the game that you dont notice the crowd - but then, at other times, you take a moment and the crowd can give you a big lift, said the Scotland captain.

We know that we have got a big responsibility to work hard for the future of Scottish rugby, he added.

And that is why it was so pleasing to see the response after the French game  with people congratulating you in the street and wishing you all the best against England.

It shows that the public have cottoned on again to the fact that rugby is a game that we are good at.

To be honest I would say the Scottish crowd have been excellent during all the last four games at home, he added.

Against Argentina the crowd was not that big but the noise they made that day was exceptional. We noticed it too against New Zealand and France, and I am sure all the fans will be singing and shouting for us on Saturday.