Nikki Walker scores a try for Scotland against Canada during the Autumn Test match at Pittodrie
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Matches: Scotland 41 - 0 Canada

Tournaments/Tours: Canada tour

Teams: Canada | Scotland

Aberdeen-born Nikki Walker crossed for two tries as Scotland ended their Autumn Test series in encouraging fashion with an emphatic victory over Canada side at Pittodrie.

Frank Hadden's men produced an impressive all-round performance to round off what had previously been a frustrating November with a resounding triumph in the last game before the start of the RBS 6 Nations.

Ben Cairns, John Barclay, Alasdair Strokosch and Rory Lamont also all crossed for tries as Scotland put behind them the disappointment of the meek surrender at the hands of New Zealand's second string and the missed opportunity against South Africa. Hadden made four changes to the side defeated by South Africa last Saturday with two new wings in Walker and Simon Webster while Simon Taylor and Strokosch came into the back row.

Two of the incoming players were heavily involved as Scotland made a red-hot start on a freezing day in the snow-capped Granite City. Walker, fit again after being injured while on duty with his club the Ospreys, slid over in the left-hand corner after being fed by Phil Godman in the third minute.

The score was the result of a succession of purposeful drives in the Canada 22, most notably by the returning Taylor, and it served notice that Scotland were eager to put last weekend's missed opportunity against South Africa out of their system.

Godman was clearly relishing the space he was allowed to operate in after being suffocated by the aggressive All Black and Springbok defences during the previous two weekends. Indeed it took a wonderful piece of tidying up on his goalline by Canada full-back James Pritchard, who plays his rugby for English club Bedford, to stop his clever chip finding the hands of Scotland Ben Cairns.

Scotland were then denied their second try in the 17th minute when Barclay was adjudged by television match official Nigel Whitehouse to have put a foot into touch as he dived over in the opposite corner under pressure from an heroic last-ditch tackle from lock Tyler Hotson.

Although Scotland remained on the front foot, a combination of Canada's brave defence, some streetwise tactics from the visitors at the breakdown and an all-too-familiar lack of finishing power from Hadden's men kept the score at just 5-0.

Having earlier turned down two eminently kickable penalties, captain Mike Blair - perhaps frustrated by those aforementioned factors - decided to take a simple three points from the boot of Godman to make it 8-0 just after the half-hour mark. The half closed in the same manner as it had begun, Nick De Luca making a fine break in midfield before feeding centre partner Cairns to stroll over for his maiden Test try.

Godman, kicking with more confidence than he had when thrust into the role after Chris Paterson's exit last weekend, added the extras to make it 15-0 at half time. Scotland again made a quick start to the half when the forwards powered over for Barclay to score, referee George Clancy this time seeing no need to refer to the TMO.

Godman converted to make it 22-0 after 42 minutes and Hadden, sensing the game was already won, replaced Barclay and Allan Jacobsen - both of whom had started all three November Tests - with Scott Gray and Alasdair Dickinson. Taylor was full of running on his return to the side but was hauled down five yards short of the line by Canada winger Justin Mensah-Coker after pocketing an interception and charging half the length of the field.

It was only a short reprieve for Canada though as Strokosch, another to have been recalled to the side, plunged over from close range for Scotland's fourth try just before the hour mark, Godman again converting.

Hadden continued to introduce his replacements, with Dan Parks and Rory Lawson filling the half-back berths in place of Godman and Blair, and as a result his side lost some of its fluency. It took a piece of individual brilliance from Walker to put the next score on the board when the former Borders winger scythed through the tiring Canada defence to touch down unopposed with 12 minutes remaining.

Canada, having defended bravely for most of the game, were now falling off tackles regularly and more good work in midfield from Cairns and De Luca allowed Lamont to power over for his sixth Test try as Scotland reached the 40-point mark. Max Evans was also handed his first cap as Scotland cruised to a much-needed victory on the ground where Hadden's reign as Scotland coach started against the Barbarians in May 2005.

Scotland: Lamont, Webster, Cairns, De Luca, Walker, Godman, Blair, Jacobsen, Ford, Murray, Hines, Hamilton, Strokosch, Barclay, Taylor.

Replacements: Evans for Webster (64), Parks for Godman (58), Lawson for Blair (58), Dickinson for Jacobsen (51), Hall for Ford (64), Mustchin for Hamilton (75), Gray for Barclay (52).

Canada: Pritchard, Duke, Hearn, Smith, Mensah-Coker, Evans, Fairhurst, Tkachuk, Pletch, Franklin, Hotson, Jackson, Sinclair, Kleeberger, Carpenter.

Replacements: Keys for Hearn (61), Hirayama for Evans (47), Williams for Fairhurst (52), Walsh for Tkachuk (67), Burak for Jackson (52), Stephen for Carpenter (72). Not Used: Robertson.

Att: 17,651

Referee: George Clancy (IRFU).

Assistant Referees: A. Lewis (Ire) S. Terheege (Eng)
Television Match Official: N. Whitehouse (Wal)