KEY POINTS:
England 42 Scotland 20
As comebacks go, Jonny Wilkinson could not have scripted it better.
After more than three years of battling injuries that threatened to end his career, the 27-year-old first five-eighths returned to the international stage yesterday with a bang. And how Twickenham roared its approval.
A try, albeit controversial, a drop goal and a succession of penalties, all kicked in trademark fashion, in a personal contribution of 27 points led England to victory in their Six Nations opener.
England's talisman was back for the first time since the World Cup final, and crucially, apart from a cut lip, remained injury free for the 73 minutes he lasted on his 53rd test appearance.
Wilkinson brought the feel-good factor back to Twickenham after the despondency of the Andy Robinson era with England's mauling of the Scots handing coach Brian Ashton a perfect start to his tenure in World Cup year.
"I'm pleased to come through the game unharmed and pleased to be back in the environment," Wilkinson said.
"I wanted to produce an acceptable performance so I don't go into that regret zone."
Wilkinson said he had never given up hope of a returning at the highest level, despite his lengthy and frequent periods spent in rehabilitation.
"I think I have seen every side of this now. I've been through the young guy, no chance scenario, the basic playing and getting on with it, the never play again stuff and I guess I've got to the stage where you just play the game."
After 12 weeks out with a lacerated kidney, one half of club rugby and some sparkling training sessions were enough to convince Ashton that youngsters Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty would have to wait a little longer for their turn.
"It means a huge amount to be here. I've got a lot to pay back and a lot of people have shown a lot of confidence in me, given me an opportunity and taken a gamble on me," added Wilkinson, who has missed 30 tests since the World Cup final with England winning only 12 of them in his absence.
Wilkinson has lost none of his poise and goal-kicking accuracy, nailing three first-half penalties and a drop goal to hand the hosts a 17-10 halftime lead.
Even a heavily bloodied lip from a stray elbow failed to knock Wilkinson off his stride, two further penalties after the break adding to his haul before he crowned his return with a try in the corner, awarded by the video referee although replays suggested a foot in touch.
Ashton greeted his side's victory with cautious optimism, describing the Calcutta Cup success as "not the perfect start but a very pleasing one".
"Once we started showing a bit of dynamism when the forwards picked up the pace a bit in the last 15 minutes of the first half, that gave us a bit of space for the midfield to start orchestrating the game a bit."
Ashton picked out halfback Harry Ellis for particular praise, saying he thought he must have pushed Wilkinson close for the man-of-the-match award.
"That's the best number nine display he's had for England and I think it shows the development of his game but it's also credit to the guys up front driving the Scots back to open the gaps."
Scotland coach Frank Hadden was relatively upbeat, despite the heavy defeat, and rued Wilkinson's controversial try.
"England played extremely well but I think we forced them to," he said.
"We knew we had to force the game to the wire and you just need everything to go your way ... Jason Robinson's second try when the ball went under Sean Lamont's body was soft but to be hit a second time by Jonny's try which was clearly not a score ... It was a farce, an unbelievable decision by a television match official.
"I don't know how anybody could get that so horribly wrong. It's not humanly possible to get it wrong."
- REUTERS
