Whisper it quietly but there is a sense of cautious optimism in Scotland ahead of the RBS 6 Nations rarely seen north of Hadrian's Wall since the turn of the century.

The last time Scotland secured northern hemisphere bragging rights the tournament consisted of only five teams, the country's parliament had yet to hold its first elections and the threat of the Millennium bug whirred quietly in the background.

Indeed, since 1999 Scotland have claimed more wooden spoons (4) than Calcutta Cups (3). However, as England head to Murrayfield for the 134th instalment of their 145-year rivalry on Saturday, there is a hint that Vern Cotter's men might just be about to achieve something special.

The lessons of last year's sixth-place finish were learned quickly and Scotland confounded expectations at the Rugby World Cup, coming within seconds of making the semifinals. That was denied them by a late heartbreaking penalty from Australia fly-half Bernard Foley, but getting out of a group that included South Africa and in-form Japan, as well as Samoa, was received positively.

Losing so agonisingly to the Wallabies at Twickenham suggested there could be more to come, and confirmed that the players had bought into Cotter's no-nonsense approach.

Greig Laidlaw, captain of Scotland and head coach Vern Cotter pose with the trophy during the RBS Six Nations launch© Stu Forster/Getty Images

"There is certainly progress," former Scotland captain and scrum-half Rory Lawson told ESPN. "That has mainly come from a focus on getting their bit right, and when they get their bit right they are an incredibly tough team to break down and pose a big threat in attack."

Scotland had been made to wait for their new coach, but since Cotter arrived in Edinburgh -- 12 months after initially agreeing to take control -- the New Zealander has set about installing a no-excuse culture at Murrayfield.

No longer are players allowed to hide behind numbers or statistics that suggest they are inferior to the traditional powerhouses of the game. Instead, they a self-belief that allows them to try things on the pitch has been instilled that other coaches may have discouraged.

The result: Scotland have become a more cohesive attacking unit, scoring 28 tries in their last nine Tests.

"International rugby is a high-pressure environment, and not only that, it's an environment in which an error or two can be punished more than they are in a club game. So guys naturally could play a little bit within themselves to make sure they don't make a mistake," Lawson said.

"But it's very clear that Cotter believes for Scotland to have success they have to move the ball, they have to shift the target, they have to play with tempo. They've got to get their basic bits right but when it's on, it's on and he backs the players to execute."

Of course, Cotter's recent results have been helped by the players he has at his disposal. For the visit of Eddie Jones' England he can call on a number of young, exciting backs such as Mark Bennett, Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell.

The additions up front of Jonny Gray, John Hardie and WP Nel, meanwhile, have given the forward pack an intimidating look that was lacking in recent years.

Much of the credit should go to the Scottish Rugby Union, its grassroots work having helped propel Glasgow to the 2014-15 PRO12 title. However, it is how these players have been integrated into the national set-up that has impressed former international Scott Hastings.

© David Rogers/Getty Images

"He [Cotter] has certainly brought a structure, an understanding and belief system into place with this team," he said.

"I've always mentioned the fact that when you're a senior player within the Scottish ranks you've got to lead with that authority, that understanding and Cotter has given senior players that understanding, backed up by some of the youngsters who've started to fit and mould into this team."

An increase in quality in the players available to Cotter -- whether brought through the ranks with Edinburgh and Glasgow, brought over as a project player or, as in Hardie's case, identified from the Scottish diaspora -- has also had a knock-on effect.

Better squad players usually prompt more intense training sessions, when Cotter's men get a more accurate taste of what is to come in the pressure cooker of a Test match.

Gone are the days when, according to Scottish rugby journalist Stuart Bathgate, "you'd say 'It's a shame that he's getting a game, we're bound to find someone better than him'."

Indeed, according to British & Irish Lions wing Sean Maitland, this is the best group of players that he has worked with as a Scotland player.

"Definitely this would be one of the toughest squads in terms of competition," he said. "Just to get into the 23, there is so much more competition now than when I first started a few years ago and that's where we want to get to.

"We want to have a lot of depth in our team, without complacency, and be fighting for those starting positions. That's what happened during the World Cup, we had a really strong group of 31."

Cotter will have learned a lot about his players during the extended period they were together for the World Cup, but have they genuinely turned the corner?

There was optimism this time last year following an encouraging autumn campaign in 2014, yet despite encouraging signs against France and Wales, they still went home with a wooden spoon.

Scotland also benefitted during England 2015 from playing Japan just four days after the Brave Blossoms had pulled off the biggest win in their history against South Africa. Moreover, Cotter's side had arguably been second best until Amanaki Mafi departed Kingsholm injured.

And while the squad may well be driven by a desire to right the wrongs of their World Cup exit, was victory against Australia not in their hands? Should they also have beaten Italy at Murrayfield last February?

"If you look back over the last five or six years, on the whole, Scotland have done fairly well in the autumn," Kelly Brown, included in Cotter's first Scotland squad, said.

"We've beaten Australia, we've beaten South Africa, we had a fairly successful autumn in 2014 but weren't quite able to transfer that into the situations of pressure games of the Six Nations where it really counted.

"This is slightly different because there was a lot of pressure on them in the World Cup, but it is a challenge -- how do you take the form from the World Cup into the Six Nations?"  

For Hastings, Scotland's success over the next six weeks depends on their ability to close out games, or "control the controllables". "If Scotland click they can perform but the optimism that is there has to be delivered," he said.

"They've suffered a few nasty losses and ultimately international rugby is about winning," he said. "Every international player will tell you there's no better feeling."

Hastings -- along with Bathgate, Brown, Lawson and many other Scottish rugby observers -- is hopeful it is a feeling that won't prove too alien to these players for too much longer. Scotland have a good coach and they have a pool of very good players.

Ahead of one of the most open Six Nations in memory, Scotland have a chance.