Scotland 3 England 29

England got the defence of their 2001 Lloyds TSB Six Nations title underway with a 29-3 Calcutta Cup win over Scotland at Murrayfield, with two early tries from Jason Robinson fuelling a businesslike performance in a stadium which has so often been the scene of disappointment for the English.

The Sale Sharks fullback flew past the Scottish defence twice in the first 13 minutes to give his side an unassailable lead, and with further tries from Mike Tindall and Ben Cohen to follow, Scotland were never close enough to gain a share of the points.

Scotland's challenge was not done any favours by a woeful goal-kicking display from recalled Edinburgh fly-half Duncan Hodge, whose appalling success rate of one in five saw his side's occasional breakthroughs into English territory go unrewarded.

Pre-match weather forecasts of a rain and windswept Murrayfield proved inaccurate, as a relatively calm day saw a sodden pitch, but one still firm enough to see flowing rugby, and certainly in a different league from the water-logged surface of the now infamous Calcutta Cup match two years ago.

It was England who made best use of the pitch early on, and they exploded out of the blocks with a try inside the first eight minutes, going to fullback Jason Robinson, whose lightning burst down the left wing came as the result of fine three-quarter play.

A quick tap penalty by scrum-half Kyran Bracken on the opposite side of the pitch saw the ball worked through the hands, Jonny Wilkinson, Austin Healey and finally Ben Cohen all playing crucial parts in picking the holes in the Scottish backline before sending Robinson in to the corner, the tough conversion just asking too much of Jonny Wilkinson.

Scotland hit back straight from the kick-off, and were unlucky not to score in the left corner through wing Brendan Laney, but England asserted their early dominance with another try after 13 minutes, Jason Robinson again showing just why he is now regarded by many as the best fullback on the planet by racing into the left corner for his second score of the afternoon.

This time it was quick, deft hands from Wilkinson who put Greenwood through the first line of defence with a well-timed pop pass, and when Greenwood offloaded to Tindall, the Bath centre was clean through in the middle of the pitch.

He sensibly fed left to Robinson, who showed returning fullback Glenn Metcalfe a clean pair of heels, scampering in for a trademark try, which was this time converted by Wilkinson from the left touchline, securing a 12-0 advantage.

Scotland somehow found some defensive shape as the half panned out, and did not concede any more points to an England team seemingly keen to ship the ball quickly away from the ruck area.

The Scots could have been level at the break had Duncan Hodge brought his kicking boots with him though, and his three missed first half penalties audibly frustrated the packed Murrayfield terraces.

Hodge did however land one successful penalty on 28 minutes, enough to send his team in with only nine points to make up against their heavily-fancied visitors.

As the teams came out for the second half, young Harlequins scrum-half Nick Duncombe was given a full debut after a whirlwind rise into the squad, with a dead-leg for Kyran Bracken paving the way for a lively and energetic showing from Duncombe.

Scotland thought they had a way back into the game three minutes into the second half when Laney hacked on down the right and pounced on the loose ball in the try area, but it seemed Laney was the only person in the stadium who had not heard the referee's whistle pulling play back for a previous infringement.

England effectively shut the game out soon after when Mike Tindall grabbed their third try, chipping and chasing in the Scotland half, collecting the ball after Glenn Metcalfe failed to claim his kick near the line, granting Tindall an unopposed run-in, in what was a solid performance after being chosen ahead of his club colleague Mike Catt.

Wilkinson converted and added a penalty soon after for a 22-3 lead, and Duncan Hodge's miserable afternoon continued with ten minutes to go when he bludgeoned an elementary penalty wide of the posts from right in front on the England 22.

England then shifted Jason Robinson to centre as Iain Balshaw entered the fray late on, and as injury-time wore on, Scotland's inertia in their own half was to be their undoing, as Ben Cohen touched down an injury-time try.

It came from a long pass by Will Greenwood near the Scottish 22, with the Harlequins centre freeing Cohen down the left, and the Northampton wing showing great strength to burst through Metcalfe and touch down in the corner.

Scotland now face a trip to Italy in two week's time, a game which could theoretically decide the wooden spoon if they continue to show the lack of ruthlessness on display this time.

That of course could prove a gross exaggeration given the talent they have, but it is hard to see too many plus points from a match which saw them on the back foot both in the loose and in the set piece, although the finishing from the England side would have been nigh-on impossible for any defence to halt.

Next for England is a home tie against the Irish, and with impressive debuts for Steve Thompson and Nick Duncombe to work from, Clive Woodward's men look to have a solid foundation for continued success.

Man of the match:  Jason Robinson
The Sale speedster ignited the first half with two outstanding finishes, although Will Greenwood and Mike Tindall also linked well in the centres.  Ben Kay was the standout in the pack, and the candidates from Scotland were few and far between, despite some late flashes of brilliance from scrum-half Bryan Redpath.

Moment of the match:  Jason Robinson's first try
A well-judged quick tap penalty from Kyran Bracken on the right wing near halfway saw the ball transferred through the hands of almost the entire backline, with sufficient urgency to see the Scotland defence caught short.  Robinson's scamper into the left corner got the game off on the right foot for the visitors, and will likely be regarded as one of the tries of the Championship come April.

Villain of the match:  Duncan Hodge
One successful shot at goal for the Scotland No.10 from five attempts earned Hodge the wrath of the Murrayfield crowd after his recall.  His chances of keeping his starting place for the Italy trip look decidedly limited, with Gregor Townsend a strong possibility to return at fly-half if injured centre John Leslie regains fitness in time.

The teams:

Scotland;  1 Tom Smith, 2 Gordon Bulloch, 3 Mattie Stewart, 4 Stuart Grimes, 5 Scott Murray, 6 Budge Pountney (c), 7 Jason White, 8 Simon Taylor, 9 Bryan Redpath, 10 Duncan Hodge, 11 Brendan Laney, 12 James McLaren, 13 Gregor Townsend, 14 Chris Paterson, 15 Richard Metcalfe
Reserves:  George Graham
Unused:  Jon Petrie, Jon Steel, Andrew Henderson, Martin Leslie, Andy Nicol, Robbie Russell

England:  1 Graham Rowntree, 2 Steve Thompson, 3 Julian White, 4 Ben Kay, 5 Martin Johnson (c), 6 Neil Back, 7 Richard Hill, 8 Joe Worsley, 9 Kyran Bracken, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 11 Austin Healey, 12 Will Greenwood, 13 Mike Tindall, 14 Ben Cohen, 15 Jason Robinson
Reserves:  Danny Grewcock, Jason Leonard, Iain Balshaw, Nick Duncombe, Charlie Hodgson
Unused:  Martin Corry, Mark Regan

Attendance:  67500
Referee:  Walsh s.

Points Scorers

Scotland
Pen K.:  Hodge D.W. 1

England
Tries:  Robinson J.T. 2, Tindall M.J. 1, Cohen B.C. 1
Conv:  Hodgson C. 1, Wilkinson J.P. 2
Pen K.:  Wilkinson J.P. 1