England debutant Owen Farrell hailed the bond between the players as they edged to a 13-6 win over Scotland at Murrayfield.
The Bulls secured a narrow 16-12 pre-season win over the Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday to open their 2012 season on a winning note.
England made a winning start under new acting coach Stuart Lancaster as they began the defence of their Six Nations title with a 13-6 Calcutta Cup win away to Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
England's new era began with a scrappy first win at Murrayfield in eight years as Scotland's familiar failings saw them lose 6-13 on Saturday.
Leicester and Northampton both won to book LV= Cup semi-final spots, while Scarlets also managed a last-four spot despite losing at Sale.
Hendre Fourie scored a try on his home debut to give Sale a 19-14 win but Scarlets were still able to reach the semi-finals of the LV= Cup.
Northampton booked a place in the semi-finals of the LV= Cup with Jamie Elliott scoring twice in their 57-10 romp against London Wasps.
A masterly kicking display from London Irish full-back Tom Homer condemned defending champions Gloucester to a 23-15 LV= Cup defeat.
Leicester booked themselves an LV= Cup semi-final spot after seeing off the challenge of Newcastle 24-13 at Welford Road.
Worcester completed their LV= Cup campaign with a hard-fought but deserved 24-14 win over a competitive Ospreys at a freezing Sixways.
The Cheetahs struck a crucial pre-season blow when they edged the Stormers 22-14 in their Super Rugby warm-up match at Newlands on Saturday.
France started their RBS 6 Nations campaign with a comfortable 30-12 defeat of Italy in Paris on Saturday.
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