Sean Lamont scored two tries Sunday to lead Scotland to a 20-16 win over tournament favorite France and the first upset of the 2006 Six Nations.
It was Scotland's first win in 10 years over France, whose Grand Slam hopes foundered against standout forward play at Murrayfield.
Scotland had led 20-3 before France hit back with tries by Julien Bonnaire and Sebastien Bruno. Chris Paterson kicked two penalties and two conversions, his chances largely set up by his pack's play in the rucks and mauls.
The first round of results -- England's 47-13 triumph over Six Nations champion Wales and Ireland's shaky 26-16 victory over Italy -- suggests the English will be the team to beat.
The French now have to recover with a victory over the Irish in Paris, England will be confident of beating Italy in Rome and Scotland will fancy its chances of beating the Welsh in Cardiff.
"Scotland stopped us playing and this is a very difficult place to come," said France coach Bernard Laporte. "They never let us get into a rhythm and now I think we have a 50-50 chance of winning this championship."
Scotland captain Jason White said the heavy Welsh loss to England a year after a Grand Slam triumph might make them harder to beat.
"The Welsh will be fighting for their lives in front of their massive, passionate crowd in the Millennium Stadium," he said. "It will be up to ourselves to not get ahead of ourselves after winning today but go down there and put in a good performance."
Coach Frank Hadden, who took over after Matt Williams was sacked 11 months ago, said: "We played particularly well for long spells in the game. But, eventually, when the extra weight and extra power and pace began to wear us down a bit, it was tremendous blood and guts, the sort of stuff the Scots have been renowned for for a long time."
The home team went ahead in the 11th minute, when a standout surge by the forwards drew the French out of position. The ball was switched left to Lamont, who darted past Frederic Michalak's poor tackle and charged over.
Paterson converted and then kicked two penalties to open up a 13-0 lead.
Quicker and stronger in the tackle, Scotland prevented France putting together any of their usual handling moves and the visitor failed to get near the home team's line in the opening half.
Desperate to get points, Michalak went for a drop goal from 45 meters -- but was well wide. Scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde got his team's first points with a close-range penalty at the end of the first half to trim the deficit to 13-3.
The home side stretched that to 20-3 early in the second half when the forwards drove their powerful French counterparts back 20 meters on the left and Lamont grabbed the ball to go over in the corner. Paterson converted.
The French hit back four minutes later with a slick passing move from right to left inside the Scotland 22 after winning the ball against the throw on a lineout.
Cedric Heymans delayed the final pass long enough to pull the Scottish tacklers out of position and let No. 8 forward Bonnaire go over in the corner. Elissalde's conversion attempt hit the post but the Scots' lead was cut to 12 points.
Paterson missed an easy 25-meter kick and Elissalde's penalty goal cut the lead to nine points with 20 minutes to go. France gave itself a late chance to snatch victory with a try three minutes from the end.
Thomas Lievremont made a run down the left past two tacklers and delayed his pass inside to Bruno, who juggled with the ball before going over. Elissalde missed the conversion and Scotland held on for only their third Six Nations victory since 2002.
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