England began their bid to add the U20 Six Nations crown to the World Rugby U20 Championship title they won in Manchester last June in emphatic fashion with a 59-17, nine-try win over their French counterparts at Sandy Park in Exeter.

Max Malins turned in a man-of-the-match performance, scoring two tries in a 24-point haul, as England dominated their opponents to the delight of a near 7,000-strong crowd.

Les Bleuets got the first score of each half but there was never any danger of them repeating the 41-17 victory they enjoyed over England’s young guns in last year’s Six Nations.

Having conceded three points from Thomas Darmon’s long-range penalty, England hit straight back to score tries through wing Joe Cokanasiga, captain and openside flanker Ben Earl, centre Will Butler and blindside flanker Tom Curry before Malins converted his own try, to add to two earlier kicks, for a 31-3 half-time lead.

Tries from Selevasio Tolofua and replacement Baptiste Pesenti came either side of a try from Max Wright, which Malins converted, as France started the second half well.

However, England picked up the pace again with Malins crossing for his second before winger Sam Aspland-Robinson and full-back Tom Parton added further gloss to the scoreline.

WALES UNEARTH NEW WING WONDER

Ryan Conbeer’s marvellous finish was the highlight of Wales’ 27-5 win over Italy as the defending Six Nations champions fell just short of registering a try bonus point at Stadio Giovanni Mari in Milan.

The winger showed great athleticism and strength to withstand the impact of a despairing cover tackle to dive in at the left-hand corner for a 53rd-minute try that all but confirmed victory for the 2016 Grand Slam winners.

Second-row Giordano Baldino had given the Azzurrini a 13th-minute lead when he rumbled over from the back of a rolling maul.

Wales replied in kind – Cardiff Blues prop Rhys Carre the beneficiary – and Ben Jones added the extras before stroking over a penalty to send the visitors into the break 10-5 up.

Jones added another three-pointer before Combeer’s moment of magic was followed by a late try from centre Kieran Williams, which was again converted.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC KICKS IRELAND TO VICTORY

The tightest match of the opening round came at the Broadwood Stadium where Ireland had a late try from Paul Boyle and a conversion from man-of-the-match and captain Johnny McPhillips to thank for a 20-19 victory over hosts Scotland.

Ireland have now won the last four meetings between these two sides at this level but it could have been a different story in Cumbernauld on Friday.

It was a similar theme to the women's match that took place earlier on the same ground as the home side led for much of the encounter.

Cameron Hutchison's early try and 14 points from the boot of Josh Henderson had looked like being enough for hosts but the fly-half did miss a late penalty to nick it at the death.

In the second half Tadgh McElroy and Boyle both crossed while McPhillips slotted 10 points from the kicking tee overall to claim Ireland's late victory.