England 16 Ireland 20

The Six Nations game between England and Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday Feb 27, 2010.

A brace of tries by Tommy Bowe clinched a thrilling victory for Ireland at Twickenham as England crashed to their first defeat of the Six Nations championship.

England looked on course to land their third successive victory when Jonny Wilkinson put the home side in front for the first time in the match with a sweetly-stuck drop-goal in the 71st minute.

But Ireland lifted themselves for one last effort and Bowe scythed through the English defence from a superb line-out move for his second try just four minutes from time, with Ronan O’Gara adding the simple conversion.

The drama continued as England mauled their way towards the Irish line at the death, but some desperate defending by the reigning grand slam champion ensured Ireland held on for their sixth victory in their last seven meetings with the red rose side.

Ireland could not have asked for a more heartening opening after their comprehensive defeat in Paris, with Bowe winning the race to a perfectly-placed chip by Jonathan Sexton for a try in the fourth minute after Wilkinson had been turned over from an enveloping tackle by Keith Earls and Jamie Heaslip had sparked a rapier counter-attack.

And although England dominated possession in the opening exchanges, Ireland’s ability to poach ball at the breakdown frustrated the home side’s attacking ambitions.

Wilkinson, whose first penalty attempt rebounded off an upright, did land his second attempt to reduce the deficit but Ireland’s aggressive defence continued to blunt England’s cutting edge.

Their ability to stop England playing saw Ireland’s confidence grow. And after Sexton had slotted a 30th minute penalty following a second line-out steal, a thrilling counter-attack by Keith Earls almost culminated in a second try only for Danny Care to touch the ball down ahead of Jamie Heaslip.

Still, a second Wilkinson, albeit against the run of play, saw England trail by just two points at the break to leave the game perfectly poised.

Sexton and Wilkinson both missed difficult penalty attempts within the first three minutes of the restart before crucially a moment of indiscipline by Danny Care saw an English penalty reversed.

Sexton kicked superbly to the corner and after a strong drive by David Wallace, a flat pass by Sexton put Earls over in the corner in the 56th minute for a seven-point to Ireland.

Yet just as Ireland looked to have landed a decisive blow, a defensive lapse by the visitors from an England scrum allowed Care to attack the short side and force Earls concede five-metre scrum.

With a penalty already awarded after John Hayes had collapsed the scrum, Leicester prop Dan Cole forced his way from close range, with the television match official confirming the try under the posts in the 61st minute.

Wilkinson converted to level the scores and Ireland suffered a further blow when they lost their captain Brian O’Driscoll following an accidental knee to his head from his team-mate Paul O’Connell.

Wilkinson surprisingly missed penalty in the 66th minute but his drop-goal in the 71st minute nudged England in front for the first time in the match.

The momentum was all with England, but the final act went Ireland’s way as Bowe cut through a gap between Joe Worsley and Wilkinson after Tomas O’Leary got on the outside of England’s defence for the decisive blow.