Vern Cotter praised his side’s burgeoning strength in depth after they completed a 43-16 win over Georgia at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park.
Vasil Lobzhanidze outstripped Tommy Seymour for the game’s first try, but the Glasgow winger swiftly replied for Scotland’s first score as he outstripped the defence and latched onto Stuart Hogg’s fine chip.
Sean Maitland and Hogg – this year’s RBS 6 Nations player of the tournament – also both scored in the first half, adding to a penalty try from a rolling maul, while Hogg’s chip-and-chase score was especially spectacular.
Hamish Watson then scored his first Scotland try to cap off a superb autumn series before debutant Ali Price broke from deep to set up Hogg’s second score in the final ten minutes.
Lobzhanidze did score a second consolation, with Merab Kvirikashvili kicking two penalties, but it was undoubtedly Scotland’s day as Mark Bennett, Ross Ford, Rob Harley, Ryan Wilson and Richie Gray all came into the squad following their 16-13 victory over Argentina.
And it was the performance, allied with the number of players posing selection dilemmas that has left Cotter feeling optimistic.
”The players took it on board when we said we want to make our selections as hard as possible,” Cotter said. “This team selection is probably the toughest we’ve had as a coaching team.
”Players who were left out should feel quite rightly annoyed that they were left out and that’s a good thing.
“They need to make it as hard for us as they can. Depth is important to us, games are getting more attritional, more and more physical and you need depth.
”If you are going to play at the top level of world rugby you need depth, and that’s something these young guys can offer. They are coming through from academies, they are getting well coached and they are getting good strength and conditioning programs and learning technically how to get better.
”Combining skill and power is very important and if we can have young players forcing their way through, that’s a good thing.
”We’re hoping that at selection time at the Six Nations things will be tough.”
