National stereotypes often have some element of truth to them, but my experience of people from north of the border suggests the dour Scotsman trope does not. This erroneous view is never more evident than when applied to the subject of the Scotland national men's team in the November tests. Like a crystal clear stream feeding a distillery producing bottles of an adeptly aged, 80% cask strength spirit of optimism, hope springs eternal from fans and commentators alike among the reddening leaves and mellow fruitfulness.