Emotional Cotter bows out on a high

sCOTlAND gave Vern Cotter the victorious swansong he deserved and threw in a new record by denying the visitors to Murrayfield a point for the first time in six Nations history.

If records are the measure of a coach’s success, then Cotter is in a league of his own.

This comfortable bonus-point win with tries from Finn Russell, Matt scott, Tim Visser and Tommy seymour also ensured the scots triumphed in every home game for the first time in 11 years.

The final tally of 14 tries and 14 points was a new high, too.

The stats were the important thing, backed by the roars for Cotter, as the game failed to live up to expectation.

‘Thanks everybody, it’s been great fun,’ was all a reluctant and emotional Cotter could offer before joining his daughter and players on a lap of honour.

Italy coach Conor O’shea, however, has much to do to convince the sceptics his side still deserve to be in this competition after another wooden spoon.

O’shea’s men finished the championship with no points. The teams did appear much closer than 29 points, scotland failing to play at a tempo to expose the difference in quality and Italy working tirelessly.

But whereas the scots’ new-found finishing quality claimed the day, Italy missed three first-half penalties and, crucially, failed to exploit the hosts being reduced to 14 men when John Barclay was sinbinned. Italy also pitched up without top attackers Michele Campagnaro and leonardo sarto, and Glasgow flanker simone Favaro.

Instead of the try-fest finale fans were hoping for, scotland reacted to morning rain by opting to kick deep for much of the game.

Referee Pascal Gauzere pulled captains Barclay and sergio Parisse aside in the first half and seemed to suggest even he was becoming bored with awarding penalties. scotland defended well but Italy’s inability to finish was shocking. Twice after the break they squandered overlaps with poor passes. scotland: Hogg; Seymour, Jones (Scott 26min, Weir 74), Dunbar, Visser; Russell, Price (Pyrgos 54); Reid (Dell 56), Ford (Brown 65), Fagerson (Berghan 65), Gilchrist (Swinson 57), Gray, Barclay, Watson, Wilson (Du Preez 48). sin Bin: Barclay (49min) Italy: Padovani; Esposito, Benvenuti, McLean, Venditti; Canna (Sperandio 63), Gori (Violi 53); Lovotti (Panico 63), Gega (Ghiraldini 40), Cittadini (Chistolini 40), Fuser (Van Schalkwyk 53), Biagi (Ruzza 74), Steyn, Mbanda (Minto 53), Parisse. referee: P Gauzere (France).