Scotland 42 Japan 17: match report Scotland struggled to shake off Japan until the final third of this contest, but they pulled away comfortably enough at the end to secure the win they desperately wanted in the opening match of their autumn campaign. Chastened by their November whitewash last year, the Scots played sensible, pragmatic rugby for the first 50 minutes before unleashing themseves against their tiring opponents and scoring four tries in the last half-hour. It was a satifying workout, but little more, and they will be well aware that a far sterner examination will be provided by South Africa next weekend. Earlier, Tommy Seymour had scored a smart try for Scotland in the 32nd minute, and Sean Lamont seemed to have grabbed another soon afterwards, but the score was chalked off for an obstruction offence. But the pace of the Scottish wingers was nothing against that of the Scottish ground staff, who raced onto the pitch after every scrum to repair a pitch that was carving up badly due to its recent nematode infestation. The Japanese pack fared little better in the set-piece onslaught during that period. They were motoring backwards in the very first scrum, and they coughed up so many penalties in that phase that they were lucky not to lose a player to the sin bin. Their problems led to Kensuke Hatakeyama being replaced after just 33 minutes, but they were not significantly improved by his going. Clearly, Japan's forward strength had been overstated in the build-up, but reports of the zip and opportunism proved well founded, especially when left wing Kenki Fukuoka came near the ball. Scotland dealt with his threat well enough, but they were dozing early in the second when Japan ran a free kick from their own 22, Toshiaki Hirose made a huge break, and swift midfield transfers put Fukuoka over for a try. It was a beautiful score, but a soft one. Yet at least did serve to galvanise Scotland into action, and five minute later they sent Greig Laidlaw over for a try after a ferocious sequence of rucks on the Japan line. By that point, the game was starting to get as loose as the playing surface, and Fukuoka took advantage again when another impressive Japanese breakout ended with him nipping over for his second score in the 52nd minute. But the Scots held their nerve and shape and began to run Japan ragged. Seymour darted over in the 55th minute, and Ally Dickinson, Duncan Weir and Sean Lamont close out with their last three tries in the final quarter.