It was a new experience to play the weakest team last of the three games in the short series, and at the end of it all we can go forward into the RBS Six Nations championship with a real belief that we can do well.

The youngsters of two years ago have come of age and have developed into world-class rugby players.

Kelso's Ross Ford along with Euan Murray in the front row are now being looked on as two of the best front-row forwards in the world, and very much in the frame for Lions honours when the team is selected for the South Africa tour.

We still have the traditional problems though. Despite running in half a dozen on Saturday we still struggle when trying to score tries. Basic handling errors have been another problem, but I've always felt that if this squad can get their act together and start believing that they can score tries, then there is a real chance that Scotland can compete in February and March and start moving up the rankings.

We beat Canada comfortably 41-0 on Saturday in the frozen north of Aberdeen. Not ideal conditions – bitterly cold and slippery underfoot due to the heavy snow, and a very tight pitch not suited to scoring tries. Everyone expected the Canadians to roll over but let's not forget that we had played Canada previously three times and lost twice, so this was our biggest ever win against them. To "nil" them too was a source of great satisfaction. Ex-Hawick winger Nikki Walker scored two tries at the weekend and that will have done his chances of Six Nations selection the world of good.

Looking back to the last couple of seasons and the disappointment we all felt at the lack of achievement, it puts things into perspective as to how far the squad has come in the last few weeks. For the boys to be disappointed that they didn't beat the world champions South Africa is testament to that. The lessons learned against New Zealand and the Springboks will stand them in good stead for the future; it's going to be tough but it's time to deliver results.

We still have an issue with that crucial position of fly half. Phil Godman is beginning to get some confidence and Hadden's decision to stay faithful with De Luca appears to be paying off – particularly on Saturday when he created Ben Cairns' try. There's still room for someone to come in to dominate that position and I hope that all club players in Scotland who currently play at 10 will see this as a golden opportunity to set their sights on one of the most influential positions in rugby. And in the Borders we have some potentially great fly halves who could put their hands up.

Many scribes have predicted that Hawick's Rory Hutton is a strong candidate. I met him last week as he prepared with the Scottish Sevens squad to go out to Dubai and George in South Africa this weekend, along with Greens team-mate Graham Hogg and former Gala man Roddy Grant.

Hutton is an exciting talent who has that natural instinct that very few are gifted with.