By Gary Watton
February 17 2014
As Ireland's rugby warriors prepare to do battle avec John Bull on Saturday the 22nd February, I have decided to journey back in time to those lovely occasions when the men in green made successful incursions into south west London. For those of you of an English disposition, if you don't want to know the scores, then look away now!
2010: England 16 IRELAND 20; 27th February
Ireland led 8-6 at the interval, and an Earls try extended the lead to 13-6. However England then led 16-13 before a late Bowe try ensured an away win.
2006: England 24 IRELAND 28; 18th March
A Denis Leamy try from a line-out gave Ireland a 21-18 lead. Then Goode kicked two penalties, before big Horgan squeezed over in the corner for a late try.
2004: England 13 IRELAND 19; 6th March
England had trailed 6-0, then led 10-6, before two O'Gara penalties gave Ireland a 12-10 interval lead which was then extended by a converted Dempsey try.
1994: England 12 IRELAND 13; 19th February
Simon Geoghegan recorded the match's only try in the first half, but it took a controversial penalty from Elwood in the second half to secure a shock victory.
1982: England 15 IRELAND 16; 6th February
A late converted try for Slemen flattered England as Ireland won with ease. McLoughlin's legendary try had resulted from Campbell's failed drop goal attempt!
1976: England 12 IRELAND 13; 6th March
Old kicked England into a 9-0 half-time lead. However, the visitors replied with a decisive try from winger Tom Grace, while Barry McGann kicked nine points.
1974: England 21 IRELAND 26; 16th February
Ireland outscored their hosts by four tries to one. The try-scoring heroes were Mike Gibson, John Moloney, and Terry Moore. Gibson scored two tries!
1972: England 12 IRELAND 16; 12th February
England led 9-3 at the halfway stage, but a famous late try for the centre Kevin Flynn provided the Irish with a fine win. Tom Grace also scored a try.
1964: England 5 IRELAND 18; 8th February
Ireland recorded three of the match's four second-half tries, to add to their 5-0 interval lead. Kevin Flynn grabbed two tries on the debut of Mike Gibson.
1948: England 10 IRELAND 11; 14th February
It wasn't quite the St Valentine's Day massacre, but Ireland outscored England by three tries to two, after this tussle had been deadlocked 5-5 at half time.
1939: England 0 IRELAND 5; 11th February
John Irwin's try, converted by Ulster's Harry McKibbin was the score that separated the two teams, as Ireland foiled England's triple crown aspirations.
1931: England 5 IRELAND 6; 14th February
Laurence McMahon obtained a try on his debut. This was also a happy debut for Victor Pike, as Ireland repeated their 6-5 triumph from two years earlier.
1929: England 5 IRELAND 6; 9th February
The half back pairing of Eugene Davy and Mark Sugden both grabbed a try as Ireland recorded their first win at 'Twickers'. Ireland had led 3-0 at half time.
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