England see off Scotland

England made a winning start under new acting coach Stuart Lancaster as they began the defence of their Six Nations title with a 13-6 Calcutta Cup win away to Scotland at Murrayfield yesterday.

England’s first victory at Murrayfield since 2004 saw a side featuring three debutants and a new captain in Chris Robshaw score the only try of the match when recalled fly-half Charlie Hodgson charged down rival stand-off Dan Parks’s attempted clearance kick early in the second half.

Owen Farrell, the 20-year-old Saracens centre, kicked the remainder of England’s points on his Test debut, with both of Scotland’s scores coming courtesy of two first-half Parks penalties.

Scotland threatened from deep and had their chances but a side coached by former England flanker and boss Andy Robinson were undone by a series of handling errors.

“To get your first win away on the road is special, especially with a lot of new players,” Robshaw, winning just his second cap, told the BBC.

“I can’t speak highly enough of all the guys, it was a great team effort and a very proud day,” the Harlequins flanker added.

Meanwhile Hodgson, one of five players from English Premiership champions Saracens in the England side, said: “One of the things we work on at Saracens is putting pressure on kickers and I got lucky with the try.”

This was Scotland’s fourth successive Test without a try and Robinson said: “It’s very frustrating. We created some great opportunities and it’s just that last pass. The game is about small margins and you have to be able to execute under pressure.”

In Paris, World Cup finalists France handed new coach Philippe Saint-Andre a winning start in the Six Nations with a 30-12 victory over Italy at a freezing Stade de France.

Tries from Aurelien Rougerie, Julien Malzieu, Vincent Clerc and debutant Wesley Fofana, allied with 10 points from Dimitri Yachvili’s boot guided France past a toothless Italy side that dominated territory and possession for large periods of the game.

The visitors rarely threatened the French line and when they did launch an attack, were well marshalled by the home side, their points coming from Kris Burton’s drop-goal and two penalties, and a third penalty by Tobias Botes.

“It’s a first victory. You have to have a smile,” said Saint-Andre, who took over from Marc Lievremont after the World Cup where France lost 8-7 to New Zealand in the final.

Playing today: 16.00 Ireland vs Wales.