England opened their new era under head coach Andy Robinson with a 12-try rout of Canada at Twickenham.
Jason Robinson marked his debut as England captain with a scintillating hat-trick as England ran in six tries in each half in a 70-0 triumph.
Josh Lewsey and debutant winger Mark Cueto both scored twice and there were further tries for Mike Tindall, Charlie Hodgson, Will Greenwood, Lewis Moody and replacement lock Hugh Vyvyan.
In Jonny Wilkinson’s absence, Jason Robinson was named as England’s first black captain and Hodgson started at fly half with the licence to play expansive, attacking rugby.
With just eight minutes on the clock, Hodgson glided through the defence and sent his Sale team-mate away with a looping pass over the top and Robinson fended off one challenge and carried over two other defenders for his 20th Test try.
Barely five minutes later Andy Gomarsall’s break set the platform for another England attack and when the ball was fed swiftly down the line, Lewsey was on hand to dive over in the corner before soon snatching his second.
Canada could do little with any possession they had against England’s smother defence and were then hit by three tries in four minutes just before the interval.
Paul dummied a switch pass to Steve Thompson and sliced clear before feeding Tindall for his score on the half-hour mark.
The Sale duo of Hodgson and Robinson then combined to send their club-mate Cueto over for a wonderfully-worked debut try, before Robinson jinked inside for his second of the afternoon.
England began the second half in a similar vein with Hodgson gliding past his man and Robinson then squeezed over in the corner to seal his hat-trick.
After the hour mark Paul dinked a clever ball through for Greenwood to score as England hit the half century before Cueto sauntered over for his second try.
Canada continued to try and create something. But they had been entirely overwhelmed and Moody got in on the act to score England’s 11th try of the afternoon.
Saracens’ Vyvyan, on for Steve Borthwick, dived over to mark his debut with a try before the appearance of Wilkinson on the big screen brought one of the louder cheers of the afternoon.
England: J Robinson (Sale Sharks, capt); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tindall (Bath), H Paul (Gloucester), J Lewsey (Wasps); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), A Gomarsall (Gloucester); G Rowntree (Leicester), S Thompson (Northampton), J White (Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath), S Borthwick (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), A Hazell (Gloucester), M Corry (Leicester).
Replacements: A Titterrell (Sale Sharks), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), B Kay (Leicester), H Vyvyan (Saracens), H Charlton (Newcastle), W Greenwood (Harlequins), B Cohen (Northampton).
Canada: D Daypuck (Castaway Wanderers); D Moonlight (University of Victoria), R Smith (Brampton Beavers), M Di Girolamo (Aurora), S Richmond (DeA Tigers, Hong Kong); E Fairhurst (Unviersity of Victoria), P Fleck (Meralomas); K Tkachuk (Glasgow), A Abrams (Castaway Wanderers), F Gainer (Dublin University), J Jackson (Leonessa), M Burak (Old Boy Ravens), J Cudmore (Grenoble), S McKeen (Pacific Pride), C Yukes (Agen).
Replacements: M Lawson (Velox Valhallians), G Cooke (Benevento), D Pletch (Oakville Crusaders), C Strubin (Capilano), D Spicer (University of Victoria), J Cannon (Coventry), S O’Leary (Meralomas).
