So it is no surprise that, of all the members of the team who will travel to Cardiff for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations game against Wales, Lamont appears the most excited.

“It’ll be the first time I’ve played at the Millennium Stadium so I’m really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere down there,” the Toulon wing said.

“One year, I was 23rd man, so I travelled with the squad.

“The crowd are right on you – the stadium’s so steep that it really feels like they’re on top of you.

“And the atmosphere that creates is unbelievable.

“The noise is deafening.”

Injury nearly robbed Lamont of yet another opportunity to play at one of world rugby’s most famous venues.

But despite missing Sunday’s opening defeat to France, the 27-year-old recovered in time to earn a recall this weekend.

Lamont had been struggling with an ankle problem suffered during Scotland’s final autumn international against Argentina last November.

The Toulon star, who will earn his 23rd cap on Saturday, said: “I came back and played a couple of games before it was really ready.

“It’s the best it’s been and I’m feeling really sharp at the moment.

“Since the autumn, I’ve only played two games.

“But I’ve been working really hard.

“When you’re not playing week in, week out, it allows you to improve other things.

“My strength and speed have gone through the roof.”

Saturday sees former Glasgow and Sale star Lamont square off against Wales wing wizard Shane Williams.

The diminutive Williams has made mincemeat of much bigger men than Lamont but his latest opponent believes he knows the secret to containing his opposite number.

“I’ve played against Shane quite a few times and I have a huge amount of respect for him,” he said.

“He’s a phenomenal talent but I do enjoy playing against him and I’m very confident about being able to handle his talent.

“He’s actually an incredibly strong guy. It’s very deceptive.

“I think that’s part of the reason he does so well; people just underestimate his strength in contact.

“He breaks tackles by taking the contact and spinning out.

“You enjoy playing against the best players in the world and the defensive aspect is something I really enjoy in the game.”

Williams and Lamont have not faced each other at Test level since the latter’s debut in 2005.

“We took a bit of a beating at Murrayfield,” said Lamont, who was nevertheless keen to point out the pair were level on the individual stakes.

“I think he scored an interception, but I also scored one on his wing.”