Cotter leaves Scotland on a high after seeing off a very poor Azzurri

Tommy Seynour grabs Scotland fourth try yesterday.

Italy, for their part, had three first- half penalties to get themselves on the scoreboard. But kicker Carlo Canna, to be blunt, couldn’t hit a cow’s rear end with a banjo.

The Azzurri did have the upper hand for the entire third quarter, most of which they spent hammering away at the Scots line.

But even when the home XV had skipper John Barclay sinbinned for one too many infringements while keeping the Italians at bay, they couldn’t get over the line with wing Angelo Esposito guilty of butchering two giltedged chances.

This wasn’t the way Scotland wanted to say goodbye to coach Vern Cotter, whom the SRU have foolishly decided to dispense with despite the immense strides made by the team under his stewardship.

Put it this way, missing half- a- dozen first picks and with star centre Huw Jones becoming the latest victim of Scotland’s 6 Nations injury curse when he pulled up lame after trying to step the Italian full- back midway through the first half, they still saw off Italy with ease even not playing the exciting style he’s instilled.

That wouldn’t have been the case under previous regimes.

Another thing the Cotter era looked to have achieved was increasing the usual token tartan participation in this summer’s Lions tour with most having six or so Scots pencilled into the tour party.

But the last two games have, in all likelihood, seen that contingent dwindle with no one bar the unfortunate Jones taking the chance to impress the Lions management and join nailed-on tourist Hogg.

Even the loathsome Mexican wave made an appearance, a sure sign of a bored crowd.

NO GRAND SLAM BUT ENGLAND STILL CELEBRATE

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