England stretch unbeaten home run

England 25, France 17

England’s revenge was sweet as they stretch their winning run at Twickenham to 19 matches in today’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener.

They wiped away the bitter memory of last year’s defeat at Stade de France, which wrecked their Six Nations and Grand Slam hopes, by breaking down the spirited French resistance.

Full-back Jason Robinson, who was willing to swap his try in Paris last year for an England victory, celebrated with both today.

His strike, bursting through to take a superb pass from centre Will Greenwood to race in and touch down near the post, gave England a grip on the game which they never relinquished.

Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, shackled by the French last year, made them pay this time with another awesome match-winning goal-kicking display which produced 20 points to take him past the 600 milestone in internationals.

Wilkinson just could not miss as he punished the French with five penalties, a conversion and a drop-goal.

But England had to battle back and overturn an early deficit after Sale youngster Charlie Hodgson, called up by coach Clive Woodward to play in the centre for the first time in life, had his kick charged down by French flanker Olivier Magne who collected one-handed to grab a fine opportunist try after just 16 minutes, which fly-half Gerald Merceron converted to put them 7-3 in front.

France actually scored three tries to England’s one but the late flurry which brought their final two came too late to affect the outcome.

Full-back Clement Poitrenaud squeezed over in the right-hand corner in the 66 minute and then centre Damien Traille went in during injury time but four missed goal-kicking opportunities by Merceron proved costly for France.

Despite 12 minutes of injury time England withstood the late French pressure to secure the all-important victory.