Irish down France, England leave Six Nations doubts

England opened their Six Nations campaign with a seemingly convincing 36-11 win over Italy at Twickenham but they were left with plenty to ponder while reland enjoyed the perfect start with an impressive 30-21 win over France.

Martin Johnson's men ran in five tries, with recalled fly-half Andy Goode taking less than two minutes to open their account.

But the sight of England captain Steve Borthwick being driven back several yards when he first tried to drive round the fringes - something Johnson said he'd specifically warned against - would have heartened the grand slam holders.

The way in which Goode, who missed several goalkicks after his dramatic start, repeatedly punted the ball straight to Italy's back three, created a sense of foreboding as to what might happen were he to do the same against the likes of Welsh stars Shane Williams and Lee Byrne.

London Irish lock Nick Kennedy led an impressive England lineout display but the scrum, a weakness during November losses to Australia, world champions South Africa and New Zealand, faltered again.

Steffon Armitage, a club-mate of Kennedy's, made his Test debut alongside brother Delon, the team's full-back, as they became the first siblings to play in the same England side since Rory and Tony Underwood in 1995.

But the pace and intensity of the game appeared to take the flanker aback and he was replaced by experienced campaigner Joe Worsley.

Overall, there was a sense that England, having established a 22-6 half-time lead, failed to press on to the kind of thumping win the All Blacks or the Springboks would have achieved in similar circumstances.

But during the opening period they were given a huge helping hand by Italy coach Nick Mallett's decision to play flanker Mauro Bergamasco at scrum-half for the first time in a Test following the loss of several regular number nines through injury.

Bergamasco, winning his 70th cap, never looked comfortable in his new role.

He was out of position defensively when Goode scored and it was his stray pass that led to New Zealand-born centre Riki Flutey's first try for England.

The 29-year-old was replaced at half-time - an admission by Mallett his gamble had failed and that there are still such things as specialist positions.

That Italy looked a far more settled and assured team with Giulio Toniolatti at scrum-half after the break left their fans thinking of what might have been had Bergamasco, whose brother Mirco scored Italy's only try, started in his familiar back-row position.

"The next place we go is Cardiff. It will be volatile and hostile and we need to improve," said Johnson after his first Six Nations match in charge.

"We were sometimes going off-plan and doing things we especially said not to do against this team. We didn't want guys picking and going around the edges against Italy because it is an area they defend best."

Tries by Jamie Heaslip, Brian O'Driscoll, his 33rd for his country, and Gordon D'Arcy, on his return to international rugby after a year's absence, saw the Irish to their first win over France since 2003.

The victory also represented a winning Six Nations debut for Ireland coach Declan Kidney.

The visitors scored two tries through Imanol Harinordoquy and Maxime Medard.

O'Driscoll insisted his team will not get carried away with victory.

"We'll enjoy this for a few hours and then start focussing on our next match with Italy," he said. "You can't win a Six Nations in the first match, but you can lose it."

France coach Marc Lievremont was furious with his term's performance.

"I am very disappointed and frustrated. We lacked discipline and we need to work harder if we are to progress," he said.

Ireland, chasing a first Grand Slam since 1948, took the lead in the third minute as Ronan O'Gara comfortably slotted over a penalty.

The French pressured the hosts but were let down as a bad pass bounced off centre Yannick Jauzion's head and the Irish eventually cleared their lines.

However, persistent French pressure finally paid off in the 15th minute when a flowing move ended with Harinordoquy, who touched down. Lionel Beauxis converted to make it 7-3.

The Irish, though, pulled to within a point two minutes later as O'Gara punished another French infringement to convert a penalty.

Flamboyant French fullback Clement Poitrenaud produced a huge error just before the half hour mark as he kicked from inside his half only for the ball to go over the deadball line.

Ireland produced a flowing move of their own with young winger Luke Fitzgerald playing a leading role and once the ball got to Heaslip he burst through the French midfield, totally bemused Poitrenaud and scored a superb try.

Beauxis pulled the French back to within three points of Ireland right on the whistle with a drop goal to make it 13-10 at half-time.

The Irish came out fired up in the second-half and scored a great try as O'Driscoll broke through Beauxis's tackle and sent Malzieu the wrong way to touch down.

France came storming back as Harinordoquy made a break down the middle and, once the ball was fed out, Beauxis produced a sublime kick behind the Irish defence and Medard sprinted onto the ball to touch down.

Beauxis was unable to convert but he did reduce the deficit in the 54th minute as he put over his second drop goal.

After sustained pressure, D'Arcy broke through Dusautoir's tackle and forced his way over the line with O'Gara converting for 27-18.

Beauxis reduced the hosts lead with three minutes remaining with a penalty but the sublime O'Gara restored the nine point advantage a minute later with a penalty of his own.