91Èȱ¬

Dave Denton insists Scotland can deliver the Scottish Rugby Union's target of winning the World Cup, despite a Six Nations whitewash.

The Scots will face South Africa, Samoa, Japan and the USA in Pool B when the tournament begins in September.

"Yes - I understand it's hard to see," replied Denton when asked if the team can lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

"Our first goal is to get out of our pool and then give ourselves every chance of wining the World Cup."

Denton added: "We never change - we're in this sport to win. We've got a tough pool, we've got tough games particularly against South Africa and Samoa that we need to make sure we perform well in and it's a pool I think we can do well in, then you get the favourable quarter final and you move on from there."

The Edinburgh back-row was, however, "hurt" by Scotland's failure to repay their supporters' loyalty, after the defeat by Ireland ensured Vern Cotter's side finished with five championship defeats - three at Murrayfield - to land the Wooden Spoon.

Denton recovered from a calf strain sustained in January to feature in the final two fixtures, 25-13 and 40-10 reversals to England and Ireland respectively.

"I can understand the frustration of the nation in not getting the results," he said.

"We came into the competition with a lot of ambition and the feeling we could actually compete to win it.

"We're putting in good performances and playing well, but we don't have that killer instinct. We haven't learned to win.

"We're in positions where we should be winning games but it's a habit. There's a hell of a lot we can take from this leading into the World Cup.

"The Scottish public have been behind us through thick and thin for the last few years, there's a huge onus on our part to pay them back."

Denton continued: "It hurts a lot to not have done that in this Six Nations because I understand the expectation they had, more than before, because they've seen that potential of this team.

"I hope they don't give up on us, they shouldn't, we're a strong group of characters and we will move forward from this. But we don't want that to be in good performances, we want it to be in wins."

Second-row Jonny Gray feels the squad have grown in resilience and unity throughout the tournament.

Gray said: "It's happening in spells, but it's that 80 min performances we need to put in.

"It's just being honest with ourselves, looking each other in the eye, everyone putting their hand up and moving forward.

"If you put on the Scotland jersey, it's an amazing feeling, it's hard to explain. To lose for your country is very tough."