News article – Style E 1241

Two tries from Jason Robinson helped England to a 29-3 win over Scotland at Murrayfield while Gerard Merceron accounted for 23 points in France’s 33-12 victory over Italy at Stade de France in Paris.

Robinson’s first try came after eight minutes and a second from the flying full-back left England 12-3 up at the break. They never really looked back after the break, effectively shutting up shop while giving a first cap to scrum-half Nick Duncombe who replaced Kyran Bracken.

There were second half tries for Mike Tindall and Ben Cohen but it was a day to forget for Scotland stand-off Duncan Hodge who could only manage one from five attempts at goal.

Scotland. 15 Glenn Metcalfe (Glasgow Rugby) 14 Brendan Laney (Edinburgh Rugby) 13 James McLaren (Glasgow Rugby) 12 Gregor Townsend (Castres) 11 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby) 10 Duncan Hodge (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 Bryan Redpath (Sale Sharks) 8 Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Rugby) 7 Budge Pountney (Northampton Saints, CAPTAIN) 6 Jason White (Glasgow Rugby) 5 Stuart Grimes (Newcastle Falcons) 4 Scott Murray (Saracens) 3 Mattie Stewart (Northampton Saints) 2Gordon Bulloch (Glasgow Rugby) 1 Tom Smith (Northampton Saints, 63 mins for Graham)
Replacements not used
16 Rob Russell (Saracens), 18 Martin Leslie (Edinburgh Rugby) 19 Jon Petrie (Glasgow Rugby) 20 Andy Nicol (Glasgow Rugby) 21 Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Rugby) 22 Jon Steel (Glasgow Rugby)
England
15 Jason Robinson (Sale Sharks), 14 Austin Healey (Leicester Tigers), 13 Will Greenwood (NEC Harlequins), 12 Mike Tindall (Bath, 73 mins for Balshaw), 11 Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints), 10 Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons, 83 mins for Hodgson), 9 Kyran Bracken (Saracens, 40 mins for Duncombe), 8 Joe Worsley (London Wasps), 7 Neil Back (Leicester Tigers), 6 Richard Hill (Saracens), 5 Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers, 69 mins for Grewcock), 4 Martin Johnson (Captain – Leicester Tigers), 3 Julian White (Bristol Shoguns, 75 mins for Leonard), 2 Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints), 1 Graham Rowntree (Leicester Tigers)
Replacements not used
Mark Regan (Bath), Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers),
Referee: Steve Walsh (NZ)
Touch Judges: Joel Jutge (Fra), Peter Marshall (Aus)
France. Nicolas Jeanjean; Aurilien Rougerie, Tony Marsh, Damien Traille, David Bory; 10 Girard Merceron, Fridiric Michalak; Jean-Jacques Crenca. Yannick Bru, Pieter de Villiers; David Auradou, Thibault Privat; Serge Betsen, Olivier Magne (capt), Steven Hall.

Replacements: Raphakl Ibaqez, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Fabien Pelous, Elvis Vermeulen, Alexandre Albouy, Frangois Gelez, Xavier Garbajosa.

Italy. Paolo Vaccari; Denis Dallan, Luca Martin, Cristian Stoica, Roberto Pedrazzi; Diego Dominguez, Allesandro Troncon; Andrea Lo Cicero, Alessandro Moscardi, Andrea Muraro; Carlo Checchinato, Santiago Dellaph; Mauro Bergamasco, Mauro Bortolami, Matthew Phillips.

Replacements: 16 Giampiero De Carli, 17 Alessandro Moreno, 18 Mark Giacheri, 19 Aaron Persico, 20 Juan Manuel Queirolo, 21 Ramiro Pez, 22 Mirco Bergamasco.