Impressive France ease past Scotland

Man of the match Vincent Clerc scored two tries, one in each half, to hand Marc Lievremont immediate success in his first match as coach of France.

Julien Malzieu, one of four debutants in the starting XV with a further two on the bench, also crossed for his maiden international try in the first half as the visitors proved too mobile and well organised for Frank Hadden's side.

Scotland had gone into the game with high hopes that their settled side could get their Six Nations off to a successful start but could only muster six points from the boot of Dan Parks, who otherwise endured a miserable game.

Scotland's more experienced side committed costly errors throughout whereas Lievremont's youthful team, with only six players from the World Cup squad in the starting line-up, displayed admirable composure in carrying out their game-plan.

An early drop goal from Parks gave the hosts a 3-0 lead, but France's adventurous approach paid dividends when Cedric Haymans and Clerc twice combined beautifully down the right flank to send the Toulouse winger in for his 16th international try despite the hint of a double movement.

Jean-Baptiste Elissalde converted to give the visitors a 7-3 lead and Damien Traille increased that advantage five minutes later with a penalty from just inside Scotland's half.

Parks then failed to deal with a long kick ahead into the Scotland 22 and Malzieu pounced for a debut try in the 23rd minute. On the stroke of the half hour, Scotland's Sydney-born stand-off kicked his second penalty from close range to bring the score to 17-6.

Traille kicked a penalty after the break to stretch his side's lead to 20-6 and Clerc scored his second try in the 65th minute after collecting his own kick down the touchline, which David Skrela converted to push France further ahead at 27-6.