England win; France top Italy to open Six Nations

LONDON – Jonny Wilkinson scored 27 points to lead England to a 42-20 win over Scotland, and defending champion France beat Italy 39-3 on Saturday’s opening day of the Six Nations.

Playing his first test since kicking the winning drop goal in the 2003 World Cup final, Wilkinson scored a try, a drop goal, five penalties and two conversions at Twickenham. The 27-year-old flyhalf, whose horrific injury run to various parts of his body made him miss England’s previous 30 tests, also linked well with former Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell.Centres Farrell and Mike Tindall and scrumhalf Harry Ellis excelled, setting up winger Jason Robinson for two tries and open-side flanker Magnus Lund for another.Wilkinson’s 59th-minute try was contentious, but the 82 000-strong crowd roared its approval when the TV referee adjudged Wilkinson avoided stepping into touch when he leapt to touch down one-handed.”I felt like it was going to be literally touch and go with my foot down and the ball down, but that’s what the video ref is for,” Wilkinson said.”It’s been a long time and it’s just good to get back on the field.The whole atmosphere it’s what I live a lot of my life for.”Scotland coach Frank Hadden was less enamoured of the decision to award the try.”Credit to England, they played extremely well,” he said.”The Jonny Wilkinson try was just a farce.It’s hugely irritating, but there were areas of the game where we didn’t play quite as well as we’d hoped.”Scotland’s 18-12 win at Murrayfield last season launched England’s run of eight losses in nine tests and resulted in Andy Robinson being replaced by Brian Ashton as coach.Wales were set to host Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff yesterday.Nampa-APThe 27-year-old flyhalf, whose horrific injury run to various parts of his body made him miss England’s previous 30 tests, also linked well with former Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell.Centres Farrell and Mike Tindall and scrumhalf Harry Ellis excelled, setting up winger Jason Robinson for two tries and open-side flanker Magnus Lund for another.Wilkinson’s 59th-minute try was contentious, but the 82 000-strong crowd roared its approval when the TV referee adjudged Wilkinson avoided stepping into touch when he leapt to touch down one-handed.”I felt like it was going to be literally touch and go with my foot down and the ball down, but that’s what the video ref is for,” Wilkinson said.”It’s been a long time and it’s just good to get back on the field.The whole atmosphere it’s what I live a lot of my life for.”Scotland coach Frank Hadden was less enamoured of the decision to award the try.”Credit to England, they played extremely well,” he said.”The Jonny Wilkinson try was just a farce.It’s hugely irritating, but there were areas of the game where we didn’t play quite as well as we’d hoped.”Scotland’s 18-12 win at Murrayfield last season launched England’s run of eight losses in nine tests and resulted in Andy Robinson being replaced by Brian Ashton as coach.Wales were set to host Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff yesterday.Nampa-AP