It’s always comforting for a fly-half to have a No 12 who can help call the shots and the combination of George Ford and Owen Farrell certainly showed potential.

The two played together at age-group level and, in the build-up to Jack Nowell’s second-half try, they justified Eddie Jones’ decision to deploy a second playmaker in the backline.

Ford put the ball through the hands before Farrell took charge around the back to send Nowell over after a slick intervention from the silky hands of Mako Vunipola.

George Ford was instrumental for England as Eddie Jones got off to the perfect start at Murrayfield

Owen Farrell kicked well and took charge around the back to send Jack Nowell over after a slick intervention

Like anything, their partnership will take time to flourish but there’s certainly reason for optimism. Owen’s a big lad and he showed that he doesn’t just need to be a distributor.

He reads the game well and runs some dangerous lines, so he can exploit half gaps and bust his way through holes as well as playing heads-up rugby to bring in the wingers.

George and Owen both kick off the right foot, so it’s handy to have Mike Brown to step into the backline and offer an option off the left foot.

Owen missed two shots at goal in the second half but, as a kicker, that’s not a reason to panic. You don’t swap Ford in straight away. Owen’s a very accomplished kicker and he came back to kick a crucial penalty later in the match.

Ford celebrates at the final whistle after helping his side to a 15-9 victory over Scotland in the Six Nations

James Haskell trudges off at the end and enjoyed dictating the line speed for the visitors on Saturday

HUNGRY HASKELL

Every time Scotland looked to attack they ran into a white wall of English defenders.

Despite some exciting running by Stuart Hogg, they never really looked like scoring and Paul Gustard’s influence was clear to see. As defence coach, he’s introduced Saracens’ style straight into the England team and that defence is going to be very, very hard to penetrate. It will only get stronger with time.

You could hear the players shouting ‘smash, smash, smash’. The line speed was fast and aggressive and, rather than tackling as individuals, they were operating as a defensive unit.

James Haskell seemed to be dictating the line speed and he really relished that style of play. The players are the defensive bricks but it’s that structure that creates the wall.

Haskell was part of a solid defensive wall from England as Scotland were kept out and never truly threatened

England’s new captain Dylan Hartley holds aloft the Calcutta Cup after getting off to the perfect start

COOL-HAND HARTLEY

Dylan Hartley’s critics were all waiting for him to kick out but I think he will prove an excellent appointment as captain.

On the field he lives and dies by the sword. He plays at 100 miles per hour and there’s no doubt he will lead from the front.

He kept his cool throughout the match and I think people’s perceptions of Dylan will change as they get to know him — he’s a very calm-headed guy most of the time and makes smart decisions. England turned down three points when they were 12-6 up in the 56th minute, with Hartley calling for a kick to the corner. They failed to score and Scotland could have scored an interception try if Finn Russell had seen Hogg outside him.

After going for the corner cost England their World Cup pool match against Wales, the media will always jump on those kind of decisions but you’ve just got to make sure you have a calculated thought process.

Hartley will remain calm-headed in the wake of his decision to go for the corner rather than go for the points