Josh Strauss is leading a resurgent Scotland that are capable of challenging the biggest nations in Europe, with Finn Russell giving them the unpredictability to succeed - according to England rugby legend Martin Johnson.

Scotland may have been edged out in Paris last weekend, but their recent win against Ireland shows that Vern Cotter’s side is beginning to come of age, claims Johnson.

Strauss made Johnson’s British & Irish Lions XV from the weekend’s action, with the former England captain running the rule over the home nations’ contenders ahead of this summer’s Tour to New Zealand.

“Eighteen months ago Brian O’Driscoll highlighted them to me and said these Scotland guys are really good,” revealed Johnson.

“And Scotland are getting to the point where they know they can go and beat these guys, now, not just being happy to go and be in a close game.

“I really enjoyed watching them play. I enjoyed the Ireland game. They do get stuck in and they were hanging on at times on Sunday, though, because France played like France.”

But while Strauss made Johnson’s team of the weekend, the bearded No. 8 failed to make so much of an impact on the public consciousness.

The marauding 30-year-old was his nation’s leading metre-maker, with 47 from 16 carries, as well as making one clean break and beating two defenders, but did not make the top four No. 8s in terms of Twitter conversation.

And with two leading contenders for the Lions No. 8 shirt currently missing from action, Johnson thinks Strauss is staking a good case for selection.

“Scotland had guys going off, like [John] Barclay, and I thought Strauss kept going and carried well, defended well,” added Johnson.

“He’s a good athlete and has played well in both games, I think.

“With [Billy] Vunipola not playing and [Taulupe] Faletau only coming on as a replacement. Then with only [Jamie] Heaslip really of the established eights playing, there have been opportunities for other guys.

“He’s playing very well.”

And Strauss’ back row colleague also caught Johnson’s eye, with 25-year-old flanker Hamish Watson also earning praise from the World Cup winner.

Watson made seven carries, beat four defenders and racked up 15 tackles, and Johnson thinks a Lions Tour will do wonders for the Edinburgh man.

“I was really impressed with him. In a game where the back row guys, a lot of them, are over 110kg, he is flying around there and having impact,” added Johnson.

“You often think he’s going to get caught in a tackle, but he wriggles out and gets another three or four yards.

“He’s there, flying about, and for such a young guy it would be great for his development to go on the Lions Tour.”

But according to Johnson, Scotland’s talents do not just lie in the back row, with in-form Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell also drawing praise from the former lock.

Russell made 16 metres on Sunday from seven carries, as well as making three offloads and four tackles.

And Johnson believes it’s the Glasgow Warrior’s unpredictability that makes him a thorn in many a defence’s sides.

“He knows what he’s doing and they seem to have the belief in him that he can do that job,” said the former Leicester Tiger.

“He’s developing nicely as a player.

“Unpredictability is good, because there’s nothing easier as a defender than knowing what’s going to happen.

“But if you don’t know what’s going to happen, that is when you cannot fly in, and then you’re slightly hesitant.

“That’s when tackles get missed, or you can offload out of a tackle.”

Johnson believes that Finn’s flare, paired with Hogg’s pace, makes Scotland a force to be reckoned with.

The full-back has five tries in his last three tests, made 84 metres against France from nine carries and enjoyed a 45 per cent share of all full-back Twitter chatter thanks to his score.

“He’s up there with his pace and he’s probably been the best of the full-backs this week,” concluded Johnson.

“When you score you’ll get the headlines. I thought he was outstanding against Ireland, and he took his try nicely against France, but it was there to be taken and you would expect him to take it, or any international full-back.

“He’s got pace and he’s got endeavour and he’s dangerous. That’s another thing as a defender that you fear, genuine pace is scary, because he can beat people, given the opportunity.”

Martin Johnson is an Ambassador for British & Irish Lions Principal Partner Standard Life Investments.