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Fierce internal competition can drive Scotland to success at the World Cup, believes Ewan Ashman, with the Edinburgh hooker saying: “We’re not going there to finish second.”<\/span><\/p>\n Scotland are in a tough group in France, meeting defending champions South Africa and Ireland, the top-ranked side in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n “We’ve got competition going through the roof and that’s bringing out the best in everyone,” Ashman told BBC Scotland after the latest pre-tournament camp.<\/span><\/p>\n “You’re butting heads and making each other better every day.<\/span><\/p>\n “Everyone is doing all they can to get on the plane and unfortunately some great players are going to miss out on the World Cup.”<\/span><\/p>\n Having selected 41 players in May, head coach Gregor Townsend must trim his training squad to 33 for the tournament this autumn.<\/span><\/p>\n Following a third-place finish in the Six Nations, Ashman is greatly encouraged by recent form and the intensity of training.<\/span><\/p>\n “You’ve seen the big results, we are capable of doing it,” he said. “All we need is that consistency and I think we can bring that with the way these camps have been going.<\/span><\/p>\n “We’re not going there to finish second, we’re going to win games.”<\/span><\/p>\n Scotland play four warm-up Tests before the World Cup, meeting France home and away and hosting Italy and Georgia.<\/span><\/p>\n Looking ahead to huge contests against South Africa and Six Nations champions Ireland, along with Pool B matches against Tonga and Romania, Ashman declared: “We need to front up and be abrasive.<\/span><\/p>\n “With the group we have, I think we need to be physical, confrontational and aggressive.”<\/span><\/p>\n Scotland, who have not been beyond the World Cup quarter-finals since 1991, will be without Stuart Hogg in France, with the star full-back <\/span>announcing his retirement<\/span><\/a> last weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n Back row Rory Darge described Hogg, capped 100 times, as “a Scottish legend” but added: “We have so much class in the back three, I’m sure we will still perform.”<\/span><\/p>\n Ashman shared those sentiments, adding: “As good a player as Hoggy is, it’s an opportunity for somebody else. We’ve got huge depth and I have no doubt the boys can step up.<\/span><\/p>\nScotland can cope without ‘legend’ Hogg<\/h3>\n