Six Nations wide open after Scots stun England

LONDON – The Six Nations championship was blown wide open on Saturday when Scotland stunned world champions England 18-12 at Murrayfield.

The Scots, who before this season had won just one of their last 10 Six Nations games, have already won two in this tournament and against both the favourites having shocked France in the opening week. They now have two wins out of three, the same as England and France, who produced another off-beat performance to beat Italy 37-12 after trailing at halftime in Paris earlier on Saturday.Ireland and Wales were due to meet in Dublin late yesterday, each have one win and one defeat.France host England in two weeks’ time in what had been billed as the likely title decider but it could be Scotland’s trip to Dublin, or Wales against Italy in Cardiff, that holds they key to the 2006 title.Scotland’s Calcutta Cup win, earned with five Chris Paterson penalties and a Dan Parks drop goal, was only their second victory over England in 15 years and ranks alongside the successes of 2000 and 1990 when they also ended English grand slam hopes.Much of their improvement this year goes down to the work of coach Frank Hadden, who has restored the fun and with it the self-belief since replacing Australian Matt Williams last year.It was 3-3 at halftime but the Scots edged clear early in the second half as Paterson split the posts with every penalty opportunity.England coach Andy Robinson had no complaints about the defeat but pointed to the fact that Scotland made 112 tackles to the 33 of his side as an indicator of how the game went.-Nampa-ReutersThey now have two wins out of three, the same as England and France, who produced another off-beat performance to beat Italy 37-12 after trailing at halftime in Paris earlier on Saturday.Ireland and Wales were due to meet in Dublin late yesterday, each have one win and one defeat.France host England in two weeks’ time in what had been billed as the likely title decider but it could be Scotland’s trip to Dublin, or Wales against Italy in Cardiff, that holds they key to the 2006 title.Scotland’s Calcutta Cup win, earned with five Chris Paterson penalties and a Dan Parks drop goal, was only their second victory over England in 15 years and ranks alongside the successes of 2000 and 1990 when they also ended English grand slam hopes.Much of their improvement this year goes down to the work of coach Frank Hadden, who has restored the fun and with it the self-belief since replacing Australian Matt Williams last year.It was 3-3 at halftime but the Scots edged clear early in the second half as Paterson split the posts with every penalty opportunity.England coach Andy Robinson had no complaints about the defeat but pointed to the fact that Scotland made 112 tackles to the 33 of his side as an indicator of how the game went.-Nampa-Reuters