Six Nations: Trinh-Duc and Médard inspire France to convincing win against Scotland

France 34 (17)
Scotland 21 (7)

Defending champions France played some pulsating rugby as they opened their Six Nations defence with a 34-21 home win against Scotland.

Marc Lièvremont's team had gone into the match openly voicing a lack of confidence following their 59-16 mauling by Australia in November, but 'Les Bleus' got off to the best possible start when winger Maxime Médard touched down in just the second minute.

Médard was one of four changes to the starting XV which was humiliate by the Wallabies, and the free-scoring Stade Toulousain star continued his remarkable season by claiming his 16th try in 24 matches in all competitions this season.

His latest effort was sparked by fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc putting in a massive hit on Nick De Luca, who subsequently spilt the ball and allowed towering centre Aurélien Rougerie to pick up and slip in a neat grubber kick which Médard finished with minimal fuss.

Morgan Parra added the conversion and France went 10-0 ahead soon after when further pressure teed up Trinh-Duc for a sweetly struck drop-goal.

The French continued to push as they dominated the early exchanges, but it was Scotland who actually scored next as skipper Alastair Kellock barged over following good work in the set up by Richie Gray and Joe Ansbro. Dan Parks' conversion lifted the visitors to within three points, but it was pretty much one-way traffic after that.

Médard went close again on 20 minutes, only for a desperate Ansbro tackle to just deny him, before the French pack then took starring role as the forced a series of five metre scrums. Scotland's front row struggled to maintain shape and referee Wayne Barnes had eventually seen enough after five re-sets to award the inevitable penalty try the French deserved.

Imanol Harinordoquy threatened the besieged Scottish line shortly before the break, and the half-time whistle must have come as blessed relief for Andy Robinson's side as the French brought the crowd to its feet with yet more sweeping play.

The scoreboard may have show just a 10-point gap but in truth Scotland were hanging on as the fought to avoid just their second defeat in their last seven games.

Robinson threw on Mike Blair for scrum-half Rob Lawson at the restart, and the French were also forced into a reshuffle as Maxime Mermoz went off injured. Lièvremont brought on Clément Poitrenaud as his replacement, with the Stade Toulousain player going to his natural No 15 position and Damien Traille moving up into the centres.

Parra kicked France further ahead with a 47th-minute penalty before he too was replaced (by Dimitri Yachvili), but the home side's momentum continued and their inevitable second try finally arrived on 55 minutes when Harinordoquy went over between the posts after a superb between-the-legs pass from Trinh-Duc.

Yachvili's conversion made it 24-7 to Lièvremont's team as the nightmares of November receded further.

Scotland never caved in completely and Kelly Brown touched down for the hosts just passed the hour mark as the French appeared to go to sleep, but the hosts replied with their third try of the match soon after as any hopes of a valiant fight-back were quickly quashed.

Médard was again integral to the score, surging through on the inside of Gray before teeing up Yachvili to feed Biarritz colleague Traille for another glorious effort. Yachvili's conversion lifted France 31-14 ahead before Médard went off to a rousing reception as Lièvremont brought on Vincent Clerc.

But Scotland still weren't done for and the pluck visitors ran in their third try of the evening five minutes from time as Sean Lamont seized on Ansbro's weighted to pass to run in. That score equalled Scotland's entire try count for the whole of last season's championship, but it still didn't prove enough to stop the French.

Pragmatism ruled as Yachvili slotted a subsequent penalty to ensure the win, with both sides doing enough to emerge with satisfaction.