No joy for Scotland or Wales

Robinson saw his side fall to an 18-9 loss at Murrayfield as they failed to build on a memorable autumn triumph over Australia.

Veteran full back Chris Paterson marked his 99th international cap with a hat-trick of penalties but France were the only side to cross the tryline in the last match of the opening weekend of Six Nations action.

Giant centre Mathieu Bastareaud scored twice for the visitors, who took a 15-6 lead into the half-time interval.

Bastareaud's first effort arrived with the game a quarter of an hour old after Imanol Harinordoquy's strong burst helped create an overlap wide on the French right.

Having claimed his first try for his country courtesy of a straightforward finish, the 21-year-old's second was a far more eye-catching effort.

The Stade Francais star dummied his way through the Scottish defence after Harinordoquy again played a pivotal role.

Scotland attempted to hit back in the second period but the only points of the final 40 minutes came from a penalty apiece from France scrum-half Morgan Parra and a 53rd-minute strike from Paterson.

Scarlets wing Sean Lamont and Glasgow back row John Barclay both made a number of strong charges during a disappointing 80 minutes but Scotland never truly troubled the France line.

It was a similar story of frustration for Wales, as they went down to a 30-17 defeat at Twickenham.

Warren Gatland's men trailed 20-3 early in the second-half before tries from Ospreys duo Adam Jones and James Hook reduced the deficit to three points with just under 10 minutes remaining.

But an interception score from Wasps flanker James Haskell - his second try of the game - put the match beyond Wales, whose hopes of claiming a third Grand Slam in six years are now over just a week into the tournament.

Wales and Scotland now meet at the Millennium Stadium next weekend with both sides still searching for their first win of the new campaign.