Wales left BT Murrayfield on Saturday with their unbeaten record in this year’s championship intact – and so one game away from the Grand Slam overall – with the Scots coming up short for a third successive Test.

However, earlier today Blair explained that, although the Scots have been a disappointed with the outcome of their most recent outings, they remain resolute in their efforts to end their campaign on a high – something they will have to do without the services of back-three trio Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour and Blair Kinghorn who, it was confirmed today, would be absent through injury.

He said: “There were parts of the game [against Wales] we weren’t happy with – we felt we dropped off.

“But it’s such a tough championship and if you play England at Twickenham the following week, you have to hold onto some of the positives to take into the next game.

“It’s also really important to look at the things that didn’t go right so we can improve for that last game.”

Despite the growing injury list, former scrum-half Blair – who lifted the coveted trophy as captain in 2008 – backed those preparing for the finale of the Guinness Six Nations, few more so than young Darcy Graham [below] who impressed with a try-scoring first start.

Blair added: “We feel that, with this group of players, we will be able to challenge England if we get things right. We’ve got the personnel and the game to be able to do that.

“We’ve not shown enough of that this championship and, with only one game left, it’s about time we did.

“We’ve been able to put good parts of our game together in different games. Spectators are aware that, when our game clicks, we can put any team under pressure.

“We’ll be working really hard to enable us to put that onto the pitch and really pressurise this England team.”