Jim Hamilton plucks a lineout against Italy, Scotland's only win of the Six Nations © Getty Images

Enlarge

Scotland's Jim Hamilton is hopeful his side will be able to win a Six Nations title before he retires.

Scotland are currently on from four in the 2014 championship and fell to France at the weekend. The loss came in an agonising fashion as Scotland were leading with just 90 seconds left but Jean-Marc Doussain's penalty saw France snatch a 19-17 victory.

Despite their poor record in this year's competition, Hamilton is adamant Scotland are building and he is hopeful they will win a title before he hangs up his boots.

He told Press Association Sport: "We've had to go to some dark places, especially after that England game. We know we didn't play well. It was a shocking day at the office. We have had to believe in what we are doing to come out of those places and the coaches certainly believe in where we are going.

"We've isolated ourselves in the squad so that we can stick together and make sure we keep everything in-house, pulling in the same direction. You can see in certain aspects of the France game that we are definitely going in the right direction.

"Maybe a lot of supporters are getting sick of hearing that but as players we want that consistency and we want to win games. Me personally, I am getting on a bit now and my ambition before I finish playing is to win a Championship. I wouldn't keep coming back, leaving my two kids and wife at home away in France, if I didn't believe in this squad that we have.

"I genuinely believe that we are getting closer to that point where we can challenge. I know it's all if, buts and maybes and that people have heard it all before. But if we keep putting in performances like we did against France and keep believing in what we are doing, there are a lot of young players in this squad who can take us there."