Scotland laboured to a win that was never in doubt, but coaches Jim Telfer and Ian McGeechan will watch the video of how their reshaped side performed and not feel they have advanced much on the past two disappointing seasons.

With the first half all but over they led just 13-3 - a Stuart Grimes try from a line-out catch and drive plus two Brendan Laney penalties and a conversion were all they had to show for 40 minutes of endeavour.

Finally, with the break beckoning, Martin Leslie made the sort of drive up the middle which moves defences around and the backs for once produced quick hands to get the ball from Gordon Ross to Laney and on to Chris Paterson for a try in the corner.

Two quick tries after half-time settled the result: Leslie got the first from another line-out move, and skipper Budge Pountney crossed after the pack had pummelled the Romania line.

Romania deserve credit for keeping the scoreline down, with a dogged display of tackling and spoiling, but in all truth this was a poor game and Scotland failed to properly impose themselves on it. A back three containing two new caps saw precious little of the ball in the first hour, as the Scots pack seldom felt like surrendering the ball to their wide men. When they did, the ball was as often as not lost in the next phase of play.

Equally, when the pack kept it tight, they found the visiting pack happy to take all the hits and come back for more. Even the tries from the front men came only after several phases had been repelled, and it was all much harder work than it should have been.

Scotland were never going to match the 134 points England scored against this opposition last season. For a start, under new French coach Bernard Charreyre, Romania are a more disciplined and organised side now. But even the 40 points Wales managed last week looked utterly beyond them in a fractured first half.

Too often, Scotland seemed to lack the confidence and the invention to break down worthy but essentially ordinary opponents, and it was extraordinary to see their one player of real wit and invention, Gregor Townsend, warming the bench until the 72nd minute. When he did finally come on, he was joined by Ben Hinshelwood who really impressed in his dozen minutes on the pitch. He immediately made two quick breaks to set up the position from which Moffat scored on his own debut.

The visitors had little ball and few chances. The best first half opportunity went begging because, after getting the better of a kick and chase Gontineac, lost control of the bouncing ball, and the Scots were able to hack it clear.

Romania did seize their first chance after the interval: Stuart Moffat on his debut at full back made hash of a long clearance came his way, knocking it on as he gathered and then not releasing. From the penalty Romania's forwards took the Scotland approach and drove hard; Petre made the key break and as the ball came back the diminutive fly half Tofan gathered and dived over.

South Africa next week at Murrayfield will be a whole different proposition.

Scotland
Tries: Grimes (4 min), Paterson (40), Leslie (43), Pountney (52), Moffat (76)
Cons: Laney 3
Pens: Laney 2

Romania
Tries: Tofan (56)
Cons: Tofan
Pens: Tofan

Scotland:
15 Stuart Moffat, 14 Nikki Walker,
13 Andy Craig 12 Brendan Laney, 11 Chris Paterson, 10 Gordon Ross,9 Bryan Redpath, 1 Tom Smith, 2 Gordon Bulloch, 3 Bruce Douglas, 4 Scott Murray, 5 Stuart Grimes, 6 Martin Leslie, 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Budge Pountney,

Substitutes
16 Steve Scott,17 Mattie Stewart,18 Nathan Hines, 19 Jon Petrie, 20 Graeme Beveridge, 21 Gregor Townsend, 22 Ben Hinshelwood (Worcester)

Romania:
15 Gabriel Brezoianu, 14 Ioan Teodorescu, 13 Valentin Maftei, 12 Romeo Gontineac (captain), 11 Vasile Ghioc, 10 Ionut Tofan, 9 Petre Mitu, 8 Alin Petrache, 7 George Chiriac, 6 Florin Corodeanu, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Augustin Petrichei, 3 Dragos Dima, 2 Marius Tincu, 1 Petru Balan.

Replacements: 16 Petrisor Toderasc, 17 Silviu Florea, 18 Stefan Dragnea, 19 Ovidu Tonita/Marcel Socaciu, 20 Lucian Sirbu, 21 Marius Coltuneac, 22 Cristian Podea.

Referee: A. Truner (SA)
Venue: Murrayfield