Scotland have 'perfect World Cup trial'
Despite suffering a 22-28 loss to Ireland in the first of their World Cup warm-up matches in Dublin last week, Southwell said there are some very good signs that the Scottish team has moved on from a disastrous Six Nations campaign – where they finished winless and last on the standings.
Southwell, capped 59 times by his country, felt the most promising aspect for Scotland is the strength in depth that has been built up.
"The selection for the past weekend were mostly fringe players and they managed to compete [with Ireland] in most areas," he told rugby365.
"If there is an area they have to improve on, it is taking their opportunities and that has always been an issue," he said of his compatriots.
Southwell suggested the breakdown area, once one of Scotland's strengths, needs some work.
"They had to commit too many people to the breakdown," he said, adding: "It allowed Ireland to fan out and Scotland then relied on individual brilliance to break down the Irish defence.
"Against South African and the other teams in the [World Cup] group [Pool B – Samoa, Japan and the United States] the breakdown will be key."
At least the Scots have a few more chances to rectify those errors.
They face Italy in Turin this week, then host the Azzurri in Edinburgh a week later, before completing their World Cup build-up with a trip to Paris and an encounter with France on September 5.
"The build-up is set up so they can develop their game," Southwell told rugby365.
"The teams they are playing against are very good at the breakdown and aggressive in attacking it.
"That bodes well for games against South Africa and Samoa, their big pool games in the World Cup.
"These are the ideal games to play in the lead-up to the World Cup."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
* This interview was brought to you courtesy of ssereward.com. Hugo Southwell was speaking at the SSE #soundsofvictory pop-up shop in London. SSE is proud joint sponsor of ITV's coverage of World Cup 2015.
* Don't miss Part Two of our interview with Hugo Southwell, when he looks more in depth into Scotland's pool at the World Cup.
