WHAT could go right did go right. Too often in recent years, things have been the other way round for Scotland, but this time they got everything spot on.

Even allowing for the lacklustre play of the Italians, this was a hugely encouraging performance from Scotland. Six tries, nearly a half-century of points, almost a clean sheet for the defence, some incisive concerted attacks and a few opportunistic individual scores: so much to be pleased about in a record score for the fixture.

Nathan Hines, the assistant coach, had spelled out on the eve of the match what the backroom team were looking for: the panache displayed in defeat in Dublin combined with the result achieved in adversity a week later in Turin. They got that all right, and a lot more into the bargain, as the men on the field completed back-to-back wins in some style.

France will be a whole lot tougher next weekend, but there is already compelling evidence that Scotland are improving. So often against Italy they have struggled up front, but here they were on top from beginning to end.

Two Italians were sin-binned, one in either half, on a deeply frustrating afternoon for the visitors. But, while the Azzurri appear to have severe problems, the biggest headache for Vern Cotter on the strength of this performance is who to leave out when he finalises his Rugby World Cup squad tomorrow.

Given the danger usually posed by the Italian pack, we had been warned that Scotland would not try to play too adventurously too quickly. But they wasted little time getting into their stride, and were 10-0 up within 10 minutes.

First Greig Laidlaw knocked over a penalty after the Italians had offended in the scrum, and then Sean Lamont grabbed his 13th try for Scotland after collecting a perfectly weighted chip from Finn Russell. Italy scrum-half Guglielmo Palazzani came across to tackle Lamont close to the left touchline, but the winger easily fended him off. Laidlaw converted that score and ended up with 16 points in all, including the next two scores, both penalties, to make it 16-0.

Then, approaching the half-hour, Italy got off the mark. For the second time after being awarded a penalty they opted to kick for touch instead of going for goal, and this time the resultant line-out paid dividends.

An initial drive was held up close to the Scots goal-line, but when the ball came back Tommy Allan chipped into the in-goal area. Laidlaw and Tim Visser were first to the ball, but the latter fumbled it off the scrum-half’s head, allowing Michele Campagnaro to gather and touch down. Allan converted, and for a time Italy were back in the match.

If there was a perilous passage of the match for Scotland, this was it, but they showed character to hit back almost immediately, aided by Italy going a man down after Francesco Minto was yellow- carded for a blatant offside. The resultant penalty was tapped, then John Barclay drove on and forced his way over. Laidlaw’s conversion made it 23-7.

Several attempts by Scotland forwards to cross the line were held up close to the posts, then swift recycling by Laidlaw to Russell allowed the stand-off to float a long pass out to Visser. The winger ran in from around 10 metres out, and although Laidlaw was off target with the conversion attempt, the score of 28-7 put the home team firmly in control.

Laidlaw sent over another penalty to take his team’s tally past the 30-point mark. Lamont, who has surely played himself into the World Cup squad with a string of impressive outings, intercepted a Quintin Geldenhuys pass inside the Italian half to score his team’s fourth try of the day.

A disappointing afternoon for the visitors was made worse when Michele Rizzo was sin-binned for stamping on Gordon Reid as the prop lay at the bottom of a ruck. Visser ran almost the length of the field after intercepting a Luke McLean pass to make it five tries, and Russell added the extra points.

Mark Bennett claimed the sixth after picking off a loose ball in his own half. Russell was wide of the mark with the conversion attempt, letting the half-century slip away with the final kick. It was a minor blemish on a near- impeccable performance.

Scotland: S Hogg (R Jackson 67); S Lamont, M Bennett, P Horne (M Scott 52), T Visser; F Russell, G Laidlaw (H Pyrgos 66); A Dickinson ( G Reid 64), R Ford (S McInally 58), W Nel (J Welsh 64), J Gray, G Gilchrist (R Harley 61), R Wilson, J Barclay (B Cowan 61), D Denton.

Italy: L McLean; A Esposito (A Masi 52), M Campagnaro, L Morisi (M Violi 75), L Sarto; T Allan (C Canna 75), G Palazzani; M Aguero (M Rizzo 34), L Ghiraldini (A Manici 65), M Castrogiovanni (D Chistolini 57), M Fuser (Q Geldenhuys 57), J Furno, A Zanni, F Minto (Mauro Bergamasco 65), S Vunisa.

Referee: R Poite (France). Attendance: 43,831.