At a time when millions of parasitic nematodes are chomping their way through the international pitch, it would be an insensitive intrusion into the Scottish Rugby Union's private grief to describe Murrayfield as some sort of can of worms.

Yet when Vern Cotter was confirmed as Scotland's new head coach last May, the messy manner of his appointment may have convinced the New Zealander that he would have had a more straightforward role in life had history granted him a position as Niccolo Machiavelli's personal assistant instead.

That episode unfolded as a sequence of claims, counter-claims, obfuscation and denials, all ending in near-farcical circumstances when Cotter fronted a press conference at which he seemed to be the only man present who was unaware of the fact that the president of Clermont Auvergne, his current employers, had just issued a statement suggesting that the coach had tendered his resignation to the club.

At the time, Cotter had just guided Clermont into the finals of the Heineken Cup and the last four of the French Top 14 Championship, so the appointment of one of the most admired coaches in Europe should have been a significant publicity coup for the Union. Instead, it was a public relations disaster.

At the conclusion of the process, Cotter was still the head coach at Clermont and Scott Johnson was still the interim head coach of Scotland. And six months later, those were the hats the two men still wore as they sat down to discuss the succession issue at Murrayfield yesterday. To an extent, the calamitous nature of his previous appearance in Edinburgh lent an element of charm offensive to his return, but it would be pushing it to say that charm oozed from every pore. Then again, as he was not particularly offensive then we can probably judge the occasion at least a partial success.

"I'm here on holiday," declared Cotter at the outset. "I've got the family over." Having trodden so heavily on Clermont sensibilities on his last visit, it was probably understandable that he should exercise some diplomacy and discretion, but it was a frustratingly anodyne performance overall. "I haven't really much to tell you," he said. And he was right.

Yet it is still a strange and not entirely satisfying situation for Scotland, team and fans alike. Johnson is essentially untouchable, guaranteed promotion to national director of rugby at the end of this season, while Cotter has no more need to prove himself at Clermont either.

In fairness to Cotter, there was not a lot he really could say about the Scotland team he has watched at close quarters over the past few days. Not without putting noses out of joint, at any rate, and his determination to avoid that scenario was almost palpable. Contractually obliged to keep an arm's length from the side's preparations to face Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday, he seemed to have no stronger views on their prospects than you might have gleaned from one of the pesky nematodes that have lately taken up residence at the place.

"I'm impressed," said Cotter, although his enthusiasm was of the well-contained variety. "I'm glad I didn't have to work. It was good seeing the boys going through their combinations and gameplan, and good to see some of the players [from French clubs] that I know particularly well. Obviously I'll be here for the game."

And that, it seems, could well be the limit of Cotter's involvement with the squad until next June, when he boards the plane that takes them to Houston for the Test meeting with the USA that will mark his arrival as Scotland coach. His arrival in international rugby at any level, in fact, for Cotter has built his career and reputation entirely in the fold of club and provincial rugby.

That background does beg the question of how he will go in this rather different environment. Those who have watched him at close quarters with Clermont have praised his organisational skills, his patience and his talent for strategic thinking over his seven-year reign.

Cotter cemented himself in the affections of Clermont's famously fickle fans when he led the team to the French championship in 2010, banishing their reputation as the perennial bridesmaids when they won the title in their 11th appearance in the final. That, though, was the last time they reached that stage of the competition, and his reputation as a saviour or slayer of demons has diminished since - most dramatically with their disappointing end to last season.

Jim Telfer had a gloriously vulgar, and completely unprintable, way of describing the limitations a Scotland coach has to operate under. In essence, said the great man, you have to make do with what you've got.

Does Cotter believe he can live without the cheque book?

"It's a challenge," he admitted. "I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't think it was. But Johnno has put the wheels in motion by creating depth in the squad and there will be younger guys coming through as well, pushing for places.

"The culture can be grown and developed. There will be themes put in place for the World Cup and we will try and develop in that time."

Which was about as close as he got to talking about the nitty gritty of the job he will take on next year. Cotter actually seemed more animated when he was asked about his house-hunting - he is looking for something with stabling that is also near a beach apparently - and the little sightseeing he has been able to do. All of which might, in due time, be remembered as the calm between the storms.