Jonny Wilkinson became the highest points scorer in Test rugby but was left with nothing to celebrate as Scotland shattered England's Six Nations hopes with a 15-9 win at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Wilkinson's three penalties took the star flyhalf's points haul in international rugby to 1099, nine clear of the previous best mark set by Neil Jenkins of Wales.
But it was the boot of Chris Patterson and the rugged determination of a ferocious Scots pack that decided the outcome of what was a typically attritional Calcutta Cup match which gave the Scots only their third win in their last 19 meetings with England.
PHOTO: AFP
Patterson contributed 12 of Scotland's points with four penalties from four attempts, taking his streak of successful kicks in international rugby to an astonishing 30. He has not missed since August.
"I am really delighted for the long suffering supporters," said Scotland coach Frank Hadden, who was probably even more relieved that victory will give him more time in the job.
"Its been difficult with all the press downing the team, and it has not been easy to maintain confidence with all that negativity," he said.
PHOTO: AP
England coach Brian Ashton will be nervously awaiting the newspaper headlines after a performance that left him distinctly underwhelmed.
"I'm very disappointed with the performance," said Ashton, who looked to have consolidated his position with victory in Paris a fortnight ago.
Wales clinch Triple Crown
PHOTO: AP
AFP, DUBLIN
Shane Williams' record-equaling try proved decisive as Wales clinched the Triple Crown and kept their Grand Slam hopes alive with a hard-fought 16-12 win away to Ireland on Saturday.
The match was all square at 6-6 when Williams gave the visitors a 51st minute lead they held for the rest of the match and, on a personal note, drew him level with Gareth Thomas's Welsh record of 40 Test tries.
Victory made it four wins out of four for Wales under their Kiwi former Ireland coach Warren Gatland and gave them a chance of completing a Grand Slam when they face France in Cardiff next Saturday.
Their triumphant first visit to Croke Park also ended a run of eight years without a Welsh win in Dublin.
"We stuck at it, kept at it and deserved it at the end," Williams said. "The change since the World Cup [where they went out in the first round] has had a lot to do with Warren and the attitude of the players."
"It has gone very well for us and we have trained very hard. The Irish played well but we had just enough in the end," he said.
For Ireland, defeat ended hopes of a first championship title since 1985.
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