Perfect start for Wales

Despite captain Ryan Jones failing a late fitness test, Warren Gatland's side ran riot at Murrayfield, touching down four times through Tom Shanklin, Alun-Wyn Jones, Leigh Halfpenny and Shane Williams.

Scotland could only manage a consolation from substitute Max Evans and, to compound their misery, they lost wing Simon Webster and debutant prop Geoff Cross after both were knocked unconscious.

First-half tries by centre Shanklin and lock Jones left the Scots reeling, before wing Leigh Halfpenny's touchdown just 48 seconds into the second period finished them off.

Wing Shane Williams' 45th Test try merely underlined Welsh supremacy, cranking up the pressure on Scotland coach Frank Hadden, whose team selection baffled many north of the border.

The 4-1 try count said everything about Wales' dominance. Fly-half Stephen Jones, a towering tactical presence, could even afford to miss every conversion, although he slotted two penalties.

Henson and Jones could both be available as they continue their recoveries from calf muscle strains, which would only increase England's already considerable degree of difficulty, although Wales suffered a late injury scare when Williams went off and immediately had his left ankle ice-packed.

Substitute Max Evans scored Scotland's try, but life will not get easier for Hadden with France looming in Paris next Saturday.

The Scots enjoyed their best spell of the game late on, and Chris Paterson almost scored, but he could not ground the ball ahead of a scrambling Byrne.

Wales, though, had comfortably done enough, winning a Test match they never remotely looked like losing.