Today’s play-off at the Stade Couturier saw them come off second best to England.

UCD back row Sean O’Brien powered over in the right corner for an eleventh-minute try. Kieran Hallett tagged on a penalty as the Irish trailed 15-8 at the interval.

The stinging heat of the first half was replaced by heavy rain after the break and England, despite having prop David Wilson sin-binned, coped better with tries from centre Anthony Allen, prop Alex Rogers and flanker Michael Hills confirming the result.

IRELAND: Fionn Carr; Ian Hanly, Tom Gleeson, Fergus McFadden, Matthew Williams; Kieran Hallett, Matthew D’Arcy; Darragh Hurley, Sean Cronin, Dave Ryan, David McGowan, Devin Toner, Michael Essex, David Pollock (capt), Sean O’Brien.

Replacements: Callum Black for Hurley (31 mins), Diarmuid Laffan for Essex (43), Darren Cave for Gleeson (55), Jonathan Sexton for Hallett, Stuart Philpott for Cronin (both 62), Duncan Williams for D’Arcy (72), Daniel Tuohy for McGowan (76).

ENGLAND: Michael Brown; Topsy Ojo, Matt Cornwell (capt), Anthony Allen, Paul Diggin; Ryan Lamb, Danny Care; Alex Rogers, Chris Brooker, David Wilson, Richard Blaze, Thomas Croft, James Haskell, Michael Hills, Jordan Crane.

Replacements used: Rob Webber for Brooker (43 mins), Tom Ryder for Blaze (49), Ben Foden for Care (50), Mark Lambert for Rogers (55), Matt Riley for Cornwell (59), Chris Robshaw for Haskell, Toby Flood for Lamb (both 67), Rogers for Hills (71), Hills for Allen (77), Mark Lambert for Wilson (79).

Scorers: Ireland: Try: Sean O’Brien; Pen: Kieran Hallett

England: Tries: Danny Care, Alex Rogers 2, Anthony Allen, Michael Hills; Cons: Ryan Lamb 2; Pen: Lamb

Sin Bin: David Wilson (England) (69 mins); Attendance: 6,500

Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)