Scotland 41 Canada 0:ABERDEEN-BORN Nikki Walker crossed for two tries as Scotland ended their autumn Test series in encouraging fashion at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Ben Cairns, John Barclay, Alasdair Strokosch and Rory Lamont crossed for tries as Scotland put behind them the disappointment of the meek surrender at the hands of New Zealand's second string and the missed opportunity against South Africa.
Frank Hadden made four changes to the side defeated by South Africa last Saturday with two new wings in Walker and Simon Webster while Simon Taylor and Strokosch came into the backrow. Two of the incoming players were heavily involved as Scotland made a red-hot start on a freezing day. Walker slid over in the left corner after being fed by Phil Godman in the third minute. The score was the result of a succession of drives in the Canada 22, most notably by Taylor.It took a wonderful piece of tidying up on his goalline by Canada fullback James Pritchard to stop Godman's chip finding Cairns.
Scotland were then denied their second try in the 17th minute when Barclay was adjudged by television match official Nigel Whitehouse to have put a foot into touch. A combination of Canada's brave defence, some streetwise tactics from the visitors at the breakdown and an all-too-familiar lack of finishing power from Hadden's men kept the score at just 5-0.
Having earlier turned down two kickable penalties, captain Mike Blair decided to take three points from the boot of Godman to make it 8-0 after the half-hour mark. The half closed in the manner as it had begun, Nick De Luca making a fine break in midfield before feeding centre partner Cairns to stroll over for his maiden Test try. Godman added the extras to make it 15-0 at half time.
Scotland again made a quick start to the half when the forwards powered over for Barclay to score. Godman converted to make it 22-0 after 42 minutes and Hadden, sensing the game was won, replaced Barclay and Allan Jacobsen with Scott Gray and Alasdair Dickinson.
Taylor was hauled down five yards short of the line by winger Justin Mensah-Coker after pocketing an interception and charging half the length of the field. It was only a short reprieve for Canada though as Strokosch plunged over from close range for Scotland's fourth try just before the hour mark, Godman again converting.
Hadden continued to introduce his replacements, with Dan Parks and Rory Lawson filling the half-back berths in place of Godman and Blair, and as a result his side lost some of its fluency.
It took a piece of individual brilliance from Walker for the next score when the former Borders winger scythed through the tiring defence to touch down unopposed with 12 minutes remaining.
More good work in midfield from Cairns and De Luca allowed Lamont to power over for his sixth Test try as Scotland reached the 40-point mark. Max Evans was also handed his first cap as Scotland cruised to victory on the ground where Hadden's reign as Scotland coach started against the Barbarians in May 2005.
SCOTLAND:Lamont, Webster, Cairns, De Luca, Walker, Godman, Blair, Jacobsen, Ford, Murray, Hines, Hamilton, Strokosch, Barclay, Taylor. Replacements: Evans for Webster (64 mins), Parks for Godman (58 mins), Lawson for Blair (58 mins), Dickinson for Jacobsen (51 mins), Hall for Ford (64 mins), Mustchin for Hamilton (75 mins), Gray for Barclay (52 mins).
CANADA:Pritchard, Duke, Hearn, Smith, Mensah-Coker, Evans, Fairhurst, Tkachuk, Pletch, Franklin, Hotson, Jackson, Sinclair, Kleeberger, Carpenter. Replacements: Keys for Hearn (61 mins), Hirayama for Evans (47 mins), Williams for Fairhurst (52 mins), Walsh for Tkachuk (67 mins), Burak for Jackson (52 mins), Stephen for Carpenter (72 mins). Not used: Robertson.
Referee:George Clancy (IRFU).
