France 34 Scotland 21

CAPTAIN Alastair Kellock lamented Scotland’s costly losses of possession in the RBS 6 Nations opener against France – and head coach Andy Robinson warned Wales are as capable as Les Bleus of exploiting such lapses.

For the 11th time in 12 Six Nations tournaments Scotland suffered defeat on the opening weekend as defending Grand Slam champions France earned a 34-21 victory at the Stade de France.

Kellock scored his maiden Scotland try, but it was ultimately in vain as he suffered a first Test defeat as captain.

The Glasgow Warriors second row, who led Scotland to a 2-0 series success in Argentina last June, believes the tone of the match was set when Maxime Medard scored a third-minute try after France had seized possession in midfield.

Kellock said: ‘‘I was very pleased with the way we’d started.

“We’d gone out with the intention of attacking, straight from the kick-off, which we did reasonably well, then we were turned over out wide.

‘‘It was probably the story of the game; when they did turn us over they were incredibly clinical.

‘‘It’s disappointing, but something we’ve got to deal with.’’ Scotland, whose solitary win on the tournament’s opening weekend came in 2006 against France, must address it quickly as on Saturday Wales visit Murrayfield intent on ending an eightmatch winless streak.

Robinson knows Wales, like France, have runners capable of capitalising on loose play.

The head coach said: ‘‘The Welsh are very good off counter attack and they score a lot of tries, so if we give them that amount of ball, we’ll be put under pressure.

‘‘I think it’s going to be a cracking game.’’ Scotland’s bid for a first Six Nations win in Paris – they had two previous wins in 42 years, the most recent coming as part of the Five Nations Championship-winning campaign in 1999 – was made difficult from the start and the visitors were always chasing.

Following Medard’s opener, Francois Trinh-Duc added a drop goal to establish a 10-0 lead.

Kellock burrowed over for his first Scotland try, but France hit back and the Scotland scrum disintegrated, with referee Wayne Barnes awarding a penalty try.

Tighthead prop Euan Murray appeared culpable and observers were left to wonder if the British and Irish Lion’s lack of action was to blame.

Murray, who was substituted for Moray Low with ten minutes remaining, moved from Northampton to Newcastle last month and had played twice for the Falcons prior to the Six Nations.

A factor in Saints’ decision to allow Murray to move on was his refusal to play on Sundays for religious reasons and he will miss the matches with Ireland and England and may yet be replaced in next weekend’s clash with Wales.