Wilkinson return heralds Calcutta Cup win
Wilkinson's performance belied his long lay-off
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Saturday, 03, Feb 2007 08:34
A superb performance from fly-half Jonny Wilkinson fully justified coach Brain Ashton's gamble and brought his England side a convincing 42-20 win over Scotland in the Six Nations.
The Newcastle Falcons star had played only a half of Premiership rugby before his reintroduction to the international scene, but he rolled back the years as he notched 27 points to land the Calcutta Cup for the world champions.
The first half was a tight, cagey affair, with a Wilkinson drop-goal establishing a slender 6-3 lead before an error in a lineout close to their own line saw England gift a try to number eight Simon Taylor who pounced on some messy ball play to score.
Two further penalties from Wilkinson nosed England ahead again before another veteran of 2003's triumph, Jason Robinson, threw a dummy before racing over on his return to Twickenham.
A Chris Paterson penalty early in the second half cut the deficit to just four points at 17-13, but from that point England pulled away with another try from Robinson, supplemented by two penalties and a conversion from Wilkinson, leaving the Scots floundering at 30-13 down.
Wilkinson sealed the match and crowned his own performance with a controversial try.
After offering support to a searing break from scrum-half Harry Ellis, he arrowed in on the corner flag and, mid-dive, reached across to dot down.
Television replays suggested a stray foot found touch before he grounded the ball, but the try was allowed to stand to put England over the horizon.
A further England score from flanker Magnus Lund was matched by one from Rob Dewey late on for the visitors as the game drew to a close.