Scotland could not end their 16-year wait for a win in Paris despite Dougie Fife scoring the only try as they went down 15-8 to France in their Six Nations opener.

Camille Lopez proved to be Philippe Saint-Andre’s match-winner with five penalties — three in the first half and two after the break.

The Scots countered with a Greig Laidlaw kick before Fife — an early replacement for the injured Tommy Seymour — touched down on the stroke of half-time.

But when the skipper hit the woodwork with his conversion attempt, the hosts at the Stade de France clung on to a slender half-time lead and did not give the Dark Blues a sniff from then on out.

Meanwhile in Rome, Ireland put on an unconvincing display against their hosts.

Two tries in three minutes while Leonardo Ghiraldini was in the sin-bin saved Ireland before they beat Italy 26-3 at the start of their title defence.

Conor Murray and Tommy O’Donnell sneaked scores while hooker Ghiraldini was off the field, after Ireland had laboured with scant return in a tryless first hour.

Sean O’Brien suffered a hamstring injury in the warm-up, so the luckless Leinster flanker’s wait for his first Test action since November 2013 goes on.

The 27-year-old will now be an automatic doubt for Ireland’s second-round clash with France in Dublin next weekend.

Ireland’s management were just as stern-faced despite victory, because the visitors never found any control or fluency at the Stadio Olimpico.

Italy lost all five Six Nations matches last year, and Ireland thumped the Azzurri 46-7 in Dublin: there would be no repeat this time.

Should this year’s Six Nations come down to points difference, just as last year, the Irish may rue not pushing the envelope somewhat once this game broke up.