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Cotter looking for more improvement after Japan series win

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Scotland finished off their season by grinding out a summer Test series win over Japan and head coach Vern Cotter admits his side still have room to grow.

Scotland finished off their season by grinding out a summer Test series win over Japan and head coach Vern Cotter admits his side still have room to grow.

Last Saturday they held on for a 21-16 victory over the Brave Blossoms at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo to seal a 2-0 series win.

Two late penalties from Greig Laidlaw did the damage in a tight encounter – he also proved the difference in their first Test 23-16 victory a week earlier.

And Cotter – whose side finished fourth in this year’s RBS 6 Nations – saw plenty of positives after a gruelling campaign that began with the Rugby World Cup last year.

“No coach is ever going to be totally happy and I know we will find parts we need to improve on. It will be a focus next time we come together,” Cotter said.

“If we can have frustrating days and a win at the end of them all the time, I will be happy.

“It was a game that in the context of the end of a season and a long year, to get the win, to grind it out, I am happy.

“I am happy with the character, the way the team applied pressure and finally got the result. It could have gone the other way.

“We weathered a very difficult first half, they flew into us and lifted the intensity from last week, we felt that. It took us a while to wear them down, but we are happy with the result.”