Wilko leads England to glory

Jonny Wilkinson scored 27 points as England beat Scotland 42-20 at Twickenham.

Jonny Wilkinson marked his return to national service with a superb display to lead England to a 42-20 victory over Scotland at Twickenham.

The fly-half put his three-year injury nightmare behind him to score a try, two conversions, five penalties and a drop goal for a Calcutta Cup record 27 points that got the Brian Ashton era off to positive start.

Winger Jason Robinson, another World Cup winner making his return to England duty, scored two tries as Scotland - who defended strongly in the first-half - ran out of steam in the final half-hour.

Wilkinson and flanker Magnus Lund touched down during a second-half avalanche of 25 unanswered points, while Scotland scored a try in each half through Simon Taylor and Rob Dewey but never threatened a repeat of their win at Murrayfield 12 months ago.

The opening 10 minutes were played exclusively in Scotland's half as the visiting scrum came under particular pressure - very much a taste of things to come.

England's dominance almost led to an early try for Harry Ellis but video referee Donal Courtney ruled the Leicester scrum-half had not been able to ground the ball after being driven over from close range by Martin Corry and Joe Worsley.

Instead they had to be content with just a 10th-minute penalty for their dominance, Wilkinson making no mistake after Scotland's scrum had infringed close to the posts.

The visitors then gained some field position for the first time, hurrying England's much heavier pack into twice conceding penalties at the lineout - Chris Paterson missed the first attempt from the right touchline before making amends in the 18th minute to bring his side level at 3-3.

Wilkinson - whose face was already covered in blood from a wound to his mouth - immediately responded with a drop goal after Worsley had forced a turnover straight from the ensuing kick-off.

But it was Scotland who were first to cross the try-line on 25 minutes after Dan Parks' long kick forced England to defend their own lineout in a dangerous position close to their own line.

Hooker George Chuter chose the worst possible time to overthrow his delivery, allowing Scotland flanker Taylor to pounce on the bouncing ball and crash over from close range.

Wilkinson then highlighted his value by slotting two penalties in three minutes to turn a 10-6 deficit into a two-point lead and put England firmly back in the ascendancy.

The new-look backline, including debutants Olly Morgan and Andy Farrell, was starting to gel and gained its reward with a try on 37 minutes that contained a distinctly rugby league flavour.

Farrell's distribution was the key, twice taking the ball at first receiver in a flowing move that culminated in his former Wigan colleague Robinson crossing in the left corner. Wilkinson was only just off-target with the touchline conversion meaning England went to the break with a 17-10 lead.

An early Paterson penalty gave Scotland hope after the resumption, but England - inevitably through Wilkinson - then turned the screw. The Newcastle stand-off stroked two difficult penalties to extend the lead to 10 points before Robinson took advantage of a Sean Lamont error to collect his second try.

Scotland wing Lamont allowed Ellis' hopeful hack ahead to slip under his body as he attempted to ground the ball behind his own line and Robinson dived on the loose ball.

The conversion was added for a 30-13 lead after 56 minutes and, three minutes later, Wilkinson continued his fairytale comeback by getting a try of his own, albeit in controversial circumstances.

Ellis had been a constant danger around the fringes and it was from another of his sniping breaks that the opportunity was created for Wilkinson to dive over in the right corner.

Referee Marius Jonker was instructed to award the try by his video official Courtney despite Wilkinson's right knee appearing to be in touch well before the ball was grounded. Insult was added to injury for the Scots as the man-of-the-moment kicked the conversion to extend the lead to 37-13.

A raft of changes on both sides disrupted the flow of the game - Wilkinson went off to a deserved standing ovation in the 73rd minute - as Scotland re-grouped in an effort to keep the scoreline respectable.

Openside flanker Lund marked a hard working first start in the Six Nations with a 73rd minute try, while replacement Dewey added Scotland's second late on.

The memory of England's travails on the same ground during the autumn had been banished by the final whistle and they entertain Italy next Saturday with an aim of building on the good work.

For Scotland coach Frank Hadden finding a way for his forwards to get their hands on more possession is the most pressing concern ahead of the visit of Wales to Murrayfield.

Email us your view on Wilkinson's comeback and England's performance here.