Scotland completed their autumn term on Saturday with the anticipated victory over an understrength Samoa side. But the high points tally expected in some quarters failed to materialise, as the home side's fire dampened in the constant drizzle at Murrayfield.
Ian McGeechan, the Scotland coach, admitted his team's first-half tactics had gone awry: "I think we tried to play too laterally," he said. "In the first half we were trying too hard to force the game".
In the event the Scots' backline attacks were easily stopped by the tough-tackling Samoans, who proved both dogged and skilful defenders. The visitors also showed that they had some attacking ability with a first-half move that ended with full back Happy Valley Patu touching down.
To their credit, Scotland improved vastly in the second period of play; their driving mauls prised open the Samoan defence to allow the Scots to score three second-half tries.
At the heart of Scotland's driving play was the prop Tom Smith, who is now showing a return to the form that earned him selection for the Lions tour to South Africa three years ago.
But behind the scrum there is still a feeling that Scotland have not yet got it right. While Gregor Townsend is looking very much the part at outhalf (and goal kicker), his partner at inside centre, John Leslie, is still below the form he showed two seasons ago.
Leslie, however, did contribute to two of the four home tries, his delayed pass to Petrie giving the number eight the opening touchdown, and his counterattack from Scotland's own 22 resulting in a try for the centre Alan Bulloch.
SCOTLAND: Paterson; C Murray (both Edinburgh), A Bulloch (Glasgow), Leslie (Newcastle), Logan (Wasps); Townsend (Castres), Redpath (Sale); Smith (Brive), Brotherstone (Northampton), Graham (Newcastle), S Murray (Saracens), Metcalfe (Edinburgh), White (Glasgow), Petrie (Glasgow), Pountney (Northampton). Replacements: G Bulloch, McIlwham, Grimes, Beattie, Beveridge, Hodge.
SAMOA: Patu; Schuster, Soolefei, Tuilagi, Toala; Sanft, Sooialo; Tafeamalii, Matauuiau, Asi, Poching, Tone, Vaeluaga, Maligi, Mealamu. Replacements: Suemai, Toleafoa, Schwalger, Veiru, Mamea, Mika.
Referee: I Hyde-Lay (Can)
