Vern Cotter hails Scotland's character after Japan victory

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter hailed his side's character after they came from behind to beat Japan 21-16 in Tokyo on Saturday.

Scotland looked on course for a shock defeat to the Brave Blossoms, with Japan leading 13-9 at half-time thanks to a superb individual try from Kaito Shigeno.

However, Scotland responded through Henry Pyrgos and Greig Laidlaw, who together kicked seven penalties to secure an underwhelming victory and, in the process, a 2-0 series win.

Although Cotter was happy with his team's second half performance, he was willing to admit the result could gone either way.

"If we can have frustrating days and a win at the end of them all the time, I will be happy," he said.

"It was a game that in the context of the end of a season and a long year, to get the win, to grind it out, I am happy.

"I am happy with the character, I'm happy with the way the team applied pressure and finally got the result. It could have gone the other way.

"We weathered a very difficult first half, they flew into us and lifted the intensity from last week, we felt that. It took us a while to wear them down, but we are happy with the result.

"Our last game was the loss against Ireland - so some things are coming right. No coach is ever going to be totally happy and I know we will find parts we need to improve, we saw some of them here. It will be a focus next time we come together."

Meanwhile, Japan head coach Jamie Joseph believes his team were unlucky to have lost the match.

Japan looked set to record their first ever win against Scotland with ten minutes remaining in the match but two late penalties from Laidlaw denied the hosts a famous victory at the Ajinomoto Stadium. 

"I'm really, really proud of the effort. We witnessed a really outstanding game here in Tokyo," said Joseph.

"I don't think the best team won and even talking to the Scottish coaches, they agree. At the end of the day the score is on the board and it will go down as a lost Test match and we are obviously very, very disappointed.

"I feel that perhaps the last two Tests we have been slightly disrespected as a team and what we can achieve. In all that attack, particularly in the second half, we did not get the reward.

"There was obviously a reason the ball was being slowed down. We worked really hard for that but did not get the outcome we believe we should have had."