England, France open with victories
Source: Agencies |
February 6, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
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FRANCE justified its status as Six Nations favorite with a 30-12 win over Italy, while England's rebuilt side showed it has spirit as well as talent to open its title defense with a 13-6 win at Scotland on Saturday.
In their first match since losing the Rugby World Cup final in October, the French touched down four times at Stade de France and conceded only four kicks to gain some payback for last season's upset in Rome.
Scotland dominated an England side containing three players making their debut but made basic errors to throw away the chance of victory.
Instead, England held out and scored the only try from a charge down at the start of the second half.
Scotland had 60 percent possession and won the ball 33 times in the opposition half, compared to just eight by England, but lacked the finish.
Replacement Greig Laidlaw thought he put Scotland in front at the start of the final quarter but the TV official told the referee that the halfback failed to put downward pressure on the ball when he stretched out over Ben Youngs' shoulder as the pair raced back over the England tryline.
Scotland openside Ross Rennie then seemed to have created the opening for a match-winning try when he burst through a gap in the visiting defense but he delayed his inside pass and lost it in a tackle from fullback Ben Foden.
France backs Aurelien Rougerie, Julien Malzieu, Vincent Clerc and Wesley Fofana on debut, each scored a try and scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili kicked 10 points.
Italy played well and shaded France for long periods but lacked the playmaking ability of the home side.
In their first match since losing the Rugby World Cup final in October, the French touched down four times at Stade de France and conceded only four kicks to gain some payback for last season's upset in Rome.
Scotland dominated an England side containing three players making their debut but made basic errors to throw away the chance of victory.
Instead, England held out and scored the only try from a charge down at the start of the second half.
Scotland had 60 percent possession and won the ball 33 times in the opposition half, compared to just eight by England, but lacked the finish.
Replacement Greig Laidlaw thought he put Scotland in front at the start of the final quarter but the TV official told the referee that the halfback failed to put downward pressure on the ball when he stretched out over Ben Youngs' shoulder as the pair raced back over the England tryline.
Scotland openside Ross Rennie then seemed to have created the opening for a match-winning try when he burst through a gap in the visiting defense but he delayed his inside pass and lost it in a tackle from fullback Ben Foden.
France backs Aurelien Rougerie, Julien Malzieu, Vincent Clerc and Wesley Fofana on debut, each scored a try and scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili kicked 10 points.
Italy played well and shaded France for long periods but lacked the playmaking ability of the home side.
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