They were able to gain some respectability with three second-half tries – two from Brian O’Driscoll and one from centre partner Kevin Maggs – but it was too little too late.

Wood, who now retires from the international game, said: “We’re very disappointed. We didn’t play in the first half but we tried very hard in the second half.

“We tried our damnedest out there but we just didn’t come out with a win.

“The first half was the worst I think we’ve played in the tournament but we did try to put everything into it.”