RBS 6 Nations

New coach Warren Gatland announced his arrival by masterminding Wales’ first Twickenham triumph since 1988.

And they did it the hard way, fighting back from 19-6 adrift to score 20 unanswered points during a remarkable 13-minute second-half spell.

Full-back Lee Byrne and scrum-half Mike Phillips scored tries to tilt the balance of a gripping encounter, while fly-half James Hook kicked 16 points.

Gatland’s decision to field a record 13 Ospreys in his starting line-up was totally vindicated as England were unceremoniously grounded.

The home side suffered a savage quadruple injury setback, with wing David Strettle, flanker Lewis Moody, centre Mike Tindall and Moody’s fellow back-row forward Tom Rees all being forced off.

England had no answers when Wales asked searching questions in the second-half, with Wales’ coaching dream team of Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley putting a proud rugby nation on cloud nine.

Wales fell behind after conceding a penalty after 15 seconds when flanker Martyn Williams was punished for not releasing possession.

Jonny Wilkinson slotted the resulting kick and, although opposite number Hook quickly landed an equaliser, both sides soon suffered major injury setbacks.

Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas was the first to go, left dazed by a Wilkinson tackle when the England star’s right arm caught Thomas flush in the face.

England though, were also in the wars as wing Strettle and flanker Moody limped off in rapid succession.

Strettle was replaced by Lesley Vainikolo, while Wasps openside Rees took over from Moody, but the unsettling nature on both sides could not be over-emphasised enough.

Wilkinson stayed calm amid the mayhem, slotting another penalty and then dropping a goal to put England 9-3 ahead following a punctuated opening quarter.

Vainikolo’s arrival had been eagerly anticipated - and he did not disappoint. He had not been on the pitch for more than 10 minutes when he gathered Wilkinson’s kick and then offloaded possession in the same movement.

Flood was the grateful recipient, receiving the pass and sprinting over unopposed as England underlined their dominance.

Wilkinson added the extras, and, although a second Hook penalty gave Wales a glimmer of hope, England almost added a second try before the break.

Full-back Iain Balshaw’s searing break was taken on at pace by flanker James Haskell, and wing Paul Sackey was only denied the touchdown by superb last-ditch defence from Wales hooker Huw Bennett.

The injury scourge continued unabated when Rees failed to reappear for the second period, which meant lock Ben Kay joining the action.

England, despite such fitness setbacks, continued to dominate, and another Wilkinson penalty hoisted them 19-6 clear, leaving Wales still way off the pace.

Kay featured at blindside flanker, such were England’s lack of back-row numbers, a situation not helped by the pre-game unavailability of Nick Easter, Joe Worsley and Tom Croft.

And it had to take its toll as Wales went into overdrive, smashing England ruthlessly on to the back foot as Gatland’s heroes eased clear on the scoreboard.

There was no way back for England, whose hopes of a first RBS 6 Nations title since 2003 are hanging by the flimsiest of threads with four matches - three away from home - still remaining.