Scotland made a promising start to their series of autumn Tests with a larger-than-apparent win over Romania - a performance that had a sufficient sprinkling of panache to suggest that the bleak rugby of last season is now in the past.
A year ago, there were similar thoughts after Scotland had followed up their win over Ireland with a success against Tonga. Then it all went pear-shaped as Murrayfield became a house of pain - for Scotland.
Scotland, fielding a recast team, showed a definite sharper edge behind the scrum, where the Orrell centre Andy Craig, playing in his third Test for Scotland following two caps in North America last summer, looked the kind of player Scotland have been lacking over the past two seasons since the departure of Alan Tait.
Craig on several occasions used speed, strength and balanced running to cut through what had looked to be a well-organised Romanian defence containing a number of players based in France. The Orrell player had the benefit of playing outside an in-form Gordon Ross at stand-off who is clearly benefiting from regular rugby in the Zurich Premiership.
Ross, scandalously ignored in the Edinburgh professional side last season and dropped after a good display for Scotland last season against Tonga, showed good judgment in his distribution, an eye for the break and, after a nervous start, some adroit kicking from hand.
The other back to excite the crowd of 35,000 was the new Scotland wing Nikki Walker. At 6ft 4in, the former Hawick player is a formidable strike force in a Scotland side desperately seeking to form a new image as an attacking outfit. Among the forwards, Martin Leslie was outstanding in a pack who always looked dangerous near the try line.
Scotland's desire to put on a good show in front of a public who need convincing was evident in the opening minutes of play when both sides missed early chances for points, Romania through a fluffed penalty attempt by stand-off Ionut Tofan and Scotland when they were dispossessed a metre from the line.
But the Scots were not to be distracted from their mission, and, when they kicked a penalty into the corner and drove the subsequent line-out, Stuart Grimes emerged from the heap to claim the opening try. Laney converted, but almost immediately Tofan showed his skills with a penalty, only for Laney to counter with two similar efforts, stretching the Scots' lead to 13-3.
Romania were given a chance to reduce the Scots' margin when skipper Romeo Gontineac and wing Vasile Ghioc formed a kick-and-chase partnership, but a cruel bounce of the ball denied a score.
Having survived this scare, the Scots hit back ferociously with a number of attacking moves that eventually produced returns through a try for left wing Chris Paterson, converted by Laney, after a surge by Martin Leslie and sweet handling in midfield. That gave the home side a 20-3 interval lead.
The Scotland score increased three minutes into the second half from another driven line-out. This time there were two preliminary waves and the ball was released on the blindside for flanker Leslie to thunder over for an unconverted try. A searing break by Craig almost brought a try for Scotland, but the home fans did not have long to wait for the promised points, a series of close-range drives ending with Pountney forcing his way over, and Laney converting .
Inevitably with their points total over the 30 mark, Scotland took their foot off the pedal for a moment and allowed Romania to mount an attack close to the Scots' line, which ended with stand-off Torfan scoring a try and converting it, to give him something to remember his trip to Murrayfield by.
Inevitably, Scotland had the final say with a try by their debutant full-back Stuart Moffat to round off an impressive win. Impressive, but the real test, as the Scots know, will be on Saturday when South Africa return to Murrayfield.
Scotland: Moffat; Walker, Craig (Hinshelwood 74), Laney, Paterson; Ross (Townsend 72), Redpath (capt); Smith (Stewart 64), Bulloch, Douglas, Murray (Hines 64), Grimes, Leslie (Scott 79), Pountney, Taylor (Petrie 72).
Romania: Brezoianu; Teodorescu, Maftei, Gontineac (capt), Ghioc; Tofan, Mitu (Sirbu 48); Balan (Socaciu 65), Tincu, Dima (Constanta ht), Petrichei (Dragnea ht), Petre, Corodeanu, Chiriac, Petrache (Costica 59).
Referee: A Turner (South Africa).
